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LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

University  of  California. 

GIFT   OF 

Mrs.  SARAH  P.  WALSWORTH. 

Received  October,  i8g4. 
Accessions  No.  y//&%L*     Class  No. 


[U2TI7BR5IT7] 


s 


J=, 


G=> 


THOUGHTS 


ON 


FAMILY-WORSHIP 


BY 


JAMES  W.  ALEXANDER, 

PASTOR  OF  THE  DUANE  STREET  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  NEW- YORK. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

NO.   265  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


V© 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847,  by 

A.  W.  Mitchell,  M.  D. 
In  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern 

District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Stereotyped  by 

S.  DOUGLAS  WYETH.  No.  7  Pear  St., 

Philadelphia. 


TO 

MY  FATHER   AND   MY   MOTHER; 

BY  WHOSE  HANDS  I  WAS  FIRST  LED  TO 

FAMILY-WORSHIP, 

AND  FOR  WHOSE  CONTINUANCE  IN  LIFE  AND  HEALTH  AT  A  rERIOD 

IN  WHICH  MOST  SONS  ARE  BEREFT  OF  THIS  BLESSING 

I  AM  BOUND  TO  GIVE  THANKS, 

THIS  VOLUME, 

WITH  HUMBLE  PRAYER  FOR  EVERY  DIVINE  FAVOUR 

TO  REST  ON  THEM  AND  THEIRS 

IS, 

IN  LOVE  AND  DUTY,  RESPECTFULLY 

INSCRIBED. 


PREFACE. 


Although  this  is  but  a  small  book,  there 
may  be  some  by  whom  it  will  be  thought  too 
large  for  its  subject.  Such  persons  must 
differ  in  their  estimate  of  domestic  religion 
from  the  writer,  who  has  been  impelled  to 
study  the  institution  by  a  profound  convic- 
tion of  its  value.  In  a  period  when  the 
world  is  every  day  making  new  inroads  on 
the  church,  it  has  especially  invaded  the 
household.  Our  church  cannot  compare  with 
that  of  the  seventeenth  century  in  this  re- 
gard. Along  with  Sabbath  observance,  and 
the  catechizing  of  children,  Family- Worship 
1*  1 


2  PREFACE. 

has  lost  ground.  There  are  many  heads  of 
families,  communicants  in  our  churches,  and 
(according  to  a  scarcely  credible  report)  some 
ruling  elders  and  deacons,  who  maintain  no 
stated  daily  service  of  God  in  their  dwell- 
ings. It  is  to  awaken  such  to  their  duty  that 
this  volume  has  been  prepared. 

The  richest  inheritance  which  some  of  us 
have  is  the  domestic  rite,  which  has  been  in 
our  houses  as  far  back  as  record  or  tradition 
goes.  A  venerable  parishioner  of  the  author 
has  enjoyed  Family-Worship  with  no  less 
than  six  generations,  including  a  grandfather 
and  great-grandchildren.  Let  other  heir- 
looms perish,  but  let  us  not  deny  to  our  off- 
spring the  worship  of  that  God,  who  has 
been  "our  dwelling-place  in  all  generations." 

While  the  chapters  which  ensue  are  any 
thing  but  controversial,  they  have  not  been 


PREFACE.  3 

written  on  any  scheme  of  compromise.  As 
issued  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publi- 
cation, they  need  no  apology  for  containing 
Presbyterian  doctrine,  and  a  decided  and 
affectionate  allusion  to  the  history  and  usages 
of  our  Church. 

Valuable  extracts  have  been  made  from 
several  books  on  the  subject  of  prayer,  and 
from  none  more  largely  than  from  a  little 
tract  entitled  "  The  Church  in  the  House/' 
by  the  Rev.  James  Hamilton,  of  London. 

If  it  should  please  the  adorable  Head  of 
the  Church  to  make  this  book  instrumental 
in  extending  the  domestic  worship  of  God's 
people,  and  especially  in  arousing  the  chil- 
dren of  the  covenant  to  honour  the  God  of 
their  fathers,  it  will  be  to  the  writer  an  un- 
speakable satisfaction.  With  earnest  desires 
and  prayers  for  this,  he  submits  it  to  the 


4  PREFACE. 

members  of  that  venerable  and  beloved 
church  in  which  his  fathers  were  reared,  and 
in  which  he  would  desire  his  children  to 
abide. 

New  York,  June  15,  1847. 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  I. 

Page 

The  Nature,  Warrant,  and  History  of  Family- Worship     .      9 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  Individual  Piety  .    •    30 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  Parents 43 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  Children 58 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  Domestics     ....     70 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Family- Worship  as  a  Means  of  Intellectual  Improvement       82 

5 


6  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

[ily- Worship  on  Dg 
and  Love „    .    93 


Page 

The  Influence  of  Family-Worship  on  Domestic  Harmony 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The   Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  a  Household  in 

affliction     .    •    .    • 107 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  Visiters,  Guests, 

and  Neighbours , 123 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  in  perpetuating  sound 

doctrine 135 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  the  Church  ....  148 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Influence  of  Family-Worship  on  the  Commonwealth    .  162 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Influence  of  Family- Worship  on  Posterity     .    .    .    .173 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Practical  Directions  as  to  the  mode  of  conducting  Family- 
Worship 188 


CONTENTS.  7 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Pago 

The  Reading  of  Scripture,  as  a  part  of  Family- Worship     .  202 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Psalmody,  as  a  part  of  Family-Worship     ••....•217 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Householder  exhorted  to  the  duty  of  Family- Worship  231 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Difficulties  and  Objections. — Conclusion 246 


ruilT-WSITTl 

FAiniT:WORSHIP. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    NATURE,  WARRANT,  AND    HISTORY    OP    FAMILY- 
WORSHIP. 

Family-Worship,  as  the  name  imports,  is 
the  joint  worship  rendered  to  God,  by  all  the 
members  of  one  household. 

There  are  some  duties  so  plain,  that  they 
are  rather  assumed,  than  commanded,  in  the 
word  of  God ;  and  the  number  of  such  is 
greater  than  might  be  supposed  on  a  superfi- 
cial examination.  This  is  especially  true  of 
those  duties  which  belong  to  the  family  rela- 
tion;  as  for  example  those  of  the  mother  to 
her  babe.  They  are  subjected  to  regulation, 
and  are  objects  of  frequent  allusion  ;  but  are 
not  incorporated  into  the  law  of  command- 
ments. We  are  not  to  wonder,  therefore,  if 
we  find,  even  in  the  New  Testament,  no 


10  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

separate  and  explicit  injunction  to  worship 
God  in  the  family.  As  little  do  we  find  any 
command  to  pray  when  we  preach  the  word, 
or  when  death  has  visited  our  dwellings. 
These  are  things  which  it  was  safe  to  leave 
writh  the  pious  sentiment  of  Christians :  and 
yet  they  are  not  the  less  characteristic  of 
good  men,  nor  less  universal  in  the  church. 

The  new-born  soul  must  pray,  even  as  the 
new-born  child  must  breathe.  And  wherever 
the  grace  of  prayer  is  shed  forth  in  the  soul, 
it  will  flow  out  in  certain  acts.  There  is  an 
irresistible  impulse  to  pray  for  those  whom 
we  love ;  and  not  only  to  pray  for  them,  but 
with  them.  There  is  a  natural  as  well  as  a 
gracious  prompting,  to  pray  with  those  who 
are  near  to  us.  Prayer  is  a  social  exercise. 
The  prayer  which  our  Lord  taught  his  dis- 
ciples, bears  this  stamp  on  every  petition.  It 
is  this  principle  which  leads  to  the  united 
devotions  of  church-assemblies,  and  which 
immediately  manifests  itself  in  Christian 
families. 

If  there  were  but  two  human  beings  upon 
earth,  they  would  be  drawn,  if  they  were  of 
sanctified  hearts,  to  pray  with  one  another. 
Here  we  have  the  fountain  of  domestic  wor- 


FAMIL  Y-WORSHIP.  1 1 

ship.  Time  was,  when  there  wrere  but  two 
human  beings  upon  earth ;  and  we  may  feel 
assured,  that  they  offered  adoration  in  com- 
mon. This  was  the  Family- Worship  of 
Paradise.  It  is,  therefore,  no  profane  fiction, 
but  a  pious  endeavour  to  shadow  forth  what 
undoubtedly  took  place,  when  the  great  poet 
represents  Adam  and  Eve  as  addressing  their 
morning  thoughts  in  concert  to  God : 


'  Soon  as  they  forth  were  come  to  open  sight 
Of  dayspring  and  the  sun,  who,  scarce  uprisen 
With  wheels  yet  hovering  o'er  the  ocean  brim, 
That  parallel  to  the  earth  his  dewy  ray, 
Discovering  in  wide  landscape  all  the  east 
Of  Paradise  and  Eden's  happy  plains, 
Lowly  they  bowed  adoring,  and  began 
Their  orisons,  each  morning  duly  paid 
In  various  style  ;  for  neither  various  style 
Nor  holy  rapture  wanted  they  to  praise 
Their  Maker,  in  fit  strains  pronounced  or  sung 
Unmeditated,  such  prompt  eloquence 
Flowed  from  their  lips,  in  prose  or  numerous  verse, 
More  tunable  than  needed  lute  or  harp 
To  add  more  sweetness  ;  and  they  thus  began."* 


That  religion  should  specially  pertain  to 
the  domestic  relation,  is  not  at  all  wonderful. 
The  family  is  the  oldest  of  human  societies ; 
it  is  as  old  as  the  creation  of  the  race.  Men 
were  not  drawn  together  into  families  by  a 

*  Paradise  Lost,  Book  V.  verse  138. 


fZ?'  OF  THE  ^^ 


12  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

voluntary  determination,  or  social  compact, 
according  to  the  absurd  figment  of  infidels  : 
they  were  created  in  families.  This  has 
been  recognized  in  every  covenant ;  and  the 
gospel,  so  far  from  destroying,  has  bound 
more  closely  and  sanctified  the  family.  By 
circumcision,  under  the  Old  Testament,  and 
by  baptism,  under  the  New,  God  has  per- 
petually reminded  his  people  of  the  honour 
set  on  this  connexion. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  make  any  inge- 
nious efforts  to  force  into  our  service  the  his- 
tory of  the  Old  Testament,  or  to  search  for 
Family- Worship  in  every  age  of  the  world. 
That  it  has  existed  in  every  age,  we  do  not 
doubt ;  that  the  Old  Testament  was  intended 
to  communicate  this  fact,  is  not  so  clear. 
But,  without  any  indulgence  of  fancy,  we 
cannot  fail  to  discern  the  principle  of  Family- 
Worship,  appearing  and  re-appearing,  as  a 
familiar  thing,  in  the  remotest  periods. 

While  all  the  church  of  God  was  in  the 
ark,  the  worship  was  plainly  Family- Wor- 
ship ;  and  after  the  subsiding  of  the  waters, 
when  "  Noah  builded  an  altar  unto  the 
Lord/'  it  was  a  family  sacrifice  which  he 
offered.*     The  patriarchs  seem  to  have  left 

*  Gen.  viii.  20. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  13 

a  record  of  their  social  worship  at  every  en- 
campment. As  soon  as  we  find  Abraham  in 
the  promised  land,  wre  find  him  rearing  an 
altar  in  the  plain  of  Moreh.*  The  same 
thing  occurs  in  the  vale  between  Hai  and 
Bethel.  Isaac  not  only  renews  the  fountains 
which  his  father  had  opened,  but  keeps  up 
his  devotions,  building  an  altar  at  Beer- 
sheba.f  Jacob's  altar  at  Bethel  was  eminent- 
ly a  family  monument,  and  was  signalized 
by  his  saying  on  the  way  "  unto  his  house- 
hold, and  to  all  that  were  with  him,  Put 
away  the  strange  gods  that  are  among 
you. "J  The  altar  was  named  El-beth-el. 
This  descent  of  religious  rites,  in  the  family 
line,  was  in  correspondence  with  that  decla- 
ration of  Jehovah  respecting  the  family  reli- 
gion which  should  prevail  in  Abraham's 
housed  The  service  of  Job  in  behalf  of 
his  children  was  a  perpetual  service;  he 
"  sent  and  sanctified  them,  and  rose  up  early 
in  the  morning,  and  offered  burnt-offerings 
according  to  the  number  of  them  all ;  thus 
did  Job  continually  ;"  or,  as  it  is  in  the  He- 
brew, "  all  the  days."  -  The  book  of  Deuter- 
onomy is  full  of  family  religion ;  as  an  ex- 

*  Gen.  xii.  7.     f  xxvi.  25.     \  xxxv.  1,  2.     §  xviii,  19. 

2* 


14  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

ample  of  which,  we  may  specially  note  the 
sixth  chapter.  The  passover,  as  we  shall 
observe  more  fully  in  the  sequel,  was  a  family 
rite. 

Every  where  in  the  Old  Testament  good 
men  take  cognizance  of  the  domestic  tie,  in 
their  religion.  Joshua,  even  at  the  risk  of 
being  left  with  none  but  his  family,  will  ad- 
here to  God :  "  As  for  me  and  my  house,  we 
will  serve  the  Lord."*  David,  after  public 
services  at  the  tabernacle,  where  "  he  blessed 
the  people  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,"  returns 
"to  bless  his  household."!  He  had  learned 
to  connect  God's  service  with  domestic  bonds, 
in  the  house  of  his  father  Jesse,  where  there 
was  "a  yearly  sacrifice  for  all  the  family. "J 
And  in  the  predictions  of  penitential  hum- 
bling, which  shall  take  place  when  God 
pours  on  the  house  of  David  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit  of  grace  and  of 
supplications,  the  suitableness  of  such  exer- 
cises to  families,  as  such,  is  not  overlooked : 
"The  land  shall  mourn,  every  family  apart; 
the  family  of  David  apart,  and  their  wives 
apart ;  the  family  of  Nathan  apart,  and  their 
wives  apart ;  the  family  of  Levi  apart,  and 

*  Josh.  xxiv.  15.     f  2  Sam.  vi.  20.     J  1  Sam.  xx.  6. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  15 

their  wives  apart;  the  family  of  Shimei 
apart,  and  their  wives  apart;  all  the  fam- 
ilies that  remain,  -apart,  and  their  wives 
apart.  "* 

The  modern  Jews,  in  every  part  of  the 
world,  keep  up  a  domestic  service.  In  their 
Liturgy,  this  is  provided  for,  at  least  as  volu- 
minously as  in  any  Christian  ritual.  As  the 
subject  is  seldom  treated,  a  few  additional 
particulars  will  not  be  out  of  place;  and 
though  these  relate  primarily  to  the  German 
and  Polish  Jews,  they  are  substantially  true 
of  all  others.  The  Hebrew  Liturgy  fills  six 
or  seven  volumes.  One  of  these  is  devoted ' 
to  the  Daily  Prayers.  They  are  read  in  the 
Synagogue,  but  are  also  read  at  home  by  all 
who  are  considered  devout.  In  the  morning 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  Israelite,  as  soon  as  he 
rises,  to  wash  himself,  and  repeat  a  blessing. 
He  then  puts  on  the  "garment  with  fringes, " 
and  repeats  another  blessing.  He  then  pro- 
ceeds with  a  service,  including  prayers, 
psalms,  and  other  portions  of  Scripture,  to 
which  large  additions  are  made  on  Sabbaths 
and  festivals.  This  must  all  take  place  be- 
fore breakfast.     The  evening  Daily  Service, 

*  Zech.  xii.  12—14. 


16  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

though  shorter,  is  of  the  same  kind.  During 
the  morning  prayer,  except  on  Sabbaths,  and 
holidays,  the  Jews  make  *ise  of  the  Tephilin, 
or  phylacteries.  The  extent  of  these  devo- 
tions may  be  understood,  when  we  add,  that 
for  the  Sabbath  they  occupy  more  than  fifty 
octavo  pages.  * 

In  the  New  Testament,  the  traces  of  fami- 
ly religion  are  not  less  obvious.  We  gladly 
borrow  the  animated  language  of  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton of  London,  and  ask  :  "  Do  you  envy  Cor- 
nelius, whose  prayers  were  heard,  and  to 
whom  the  Lord  sent  a  special  messenger  to 
teach  him  the  way  of  salvation  ?  He  was 
a  >  devout  man,  one  who  feared  God  with  all 
his  house,  and  prayed  to  God  always;'  and 
who  was  so  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  his 
family,  that  he  got  together  his  kinsmen  and 
near  friends,  that  they  might  be  ready  to 
hear  the  apostle  when  he  arrived,  and  share 
with  himself  the  benefit. \     Do  you  admire 

*  This  statement  is  made  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Henry 
Goldsmith,  a  learned  Israelite,  and  professor  of  the  Hebrew 
language  in  New  York.  See  also  the  "  Form  of  Daily 
Prayers,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  German  and  Polish 
Jews,  as  read  in  their  Synagogues,  and  used  in  their  Fam- 
ilies."    London,  A.  M.  5596. 

t  Acts  x.  2,  24,  31. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  17 

Aquila  and  Priscilla,  Paul's  'helpers  in 
Christ  Jesus,'  and  who  were  so  skilful  in  the 
Scriptures,  that  they  were  able  to  teach  a 
young  minister  the  way  of  God  more  per- 
fectly ?  You  will  find  that  one  reason  for 
their  familiarity  with  the  Scriptures  was, 
that  they  had  a  '  church  in  their  house.'  "*  It 
was  doubtless  recognized  in  regard  to  spirit- 
ual as  well  as  in  regard  to  temporal  things, 
that  "if  any  provide  not  for  his  own,  and 
especially  for  those  of  his  own  household,  he 
hath  denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse  than  an 
infidel,  "f  That  spirit  of  social  prayer  which 
led  disciples  to  join  in  supplication  or 
praise,  in  upper  chambers,  in  prisons,  in  the 
stocks,  and  on  the  sea-beach,  J  could  not  but 
have  manifested  itself  in  daily  household 
devotion. 

Our  records  of  primitive  Christianity  are 
so  much  distorted  and  corrupted  by  a  super- 
stitious tradition,  that  we  need  not  be  sur- 
prised to  find  a  simple  and  spiritual  service 
such  as  this,  thrown  into  the  shade  by  sacer- 
dotal rites.  Yet  we  discern  enough  to  teach 
us,  that  believers  of  the  first  ages  were  not 

*  Acts  xviii.  26  ;    Rom.  xvi.  5.  t  1  Tim-  v-  3. 

t  Acts  i.  13.   xvi.  25 ;  Gal.  iv.  12 ;  2  Tim.  i.  3. 


18  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

neglectful  of  Family-Worship.  Many  of  the 
authorities,  cited  by  Bishop  Mant,  in  his 
work  on  "  Daily  Prayer,"  are  quite  as  cogent 
in  favour  of  a  domestic  service,  as  of  a  daily 
office  in  the  church  edifice,  which  some  are 
so  zealously  reviving. 

"  In  general,"  says  Neander,  in  a  wTork 
not  published  among  us,  "  they  followed  the 
Jews,  in  observing  the  three  seasons  of  day, 
nine,  twelve,  and  three  o'clock,  as  special 
hours  of  prayer ;  yet  they  did  not  use  these 
in  a  legal  manner,  such  as  militated  against 
Christian  liberty  ;  for  Tertullian  says,  in  re- 
gard to  times  of  prayer, '  nothing  is  prescribed, 
except  that  we  may  pray  at  every  hour,  and 
in  every  place.'  The  Christians  began  and 
closed  the  day  with  prayer.  Before  meals, 
before  the  bath,  they  prayed  ;  for,  as  Tertul- 
lian says,  the  ■  refreshment  and  nourishment 
of  the  soul  must  precede  the  refreshment 
and  nourishment  of  the  body  ;  the  heavenly 
before  the  earthly.'  When  a  Christian  from 
abroad,  after  brotherly  reception  and  hospi- 
tality in  the  house  of  a  brother  Christian, 
took  his  leave,  he  was  dismissed  from  the 
Christian  family  with  prayer ;  Because,  said 
they,  in  thy  brother  thou  hast  beheld  thy 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  19 

Lord.     For  every  affair  of  ordinary  life  they 
made  preparation  by  prayer."* 

To  this  we  may  add  the  statements  of  a 
learned  man,  who  has  made  Christian  An- 
tiquities his  peculiar  study.  "  Instead  of 
consuming  their  leisure  hours  in  vacant  idle- 
ness, or  deriving  their  chief  amusement  from 
boisterous  merriment,  the  recital  of  tales  of 
superstition,  or  the  chanting  of  the  profane 
songs  of  the  heathen,  they  passed  their 
hours  of  repose  in  rational  and  enlivening 
pursuits;  found  pleasure  in  enlarging  their 
religious  knowledge,  and  entertainment  in 
songs  that  were  dedicated  to  the  praise  of 
God.  These  formed  their  pastime  in  pri- 
vate, and  their  favourite  recreations  at  their 
family  and  friendly  meetings.  With  their 
minds  full  of  the  inspiring  influence  of  these, 
they  returned  with  fresh  ardour  to  their 
scenes  of  toil ;  and  to  gratify  their  taste  for  a 
renewal  of  these,  they  longed  for  release 
from  labour,  far  more  than  to  appease  their 
appetite  with  the  provisions  of  the  table. 
Young  women  sitting  at  the  distaff,  and 
matrons  going  about  the  duties  of  the  house- 
hold, were  constantly  humming  some  spirit- 
i*  &txifwuMg>Wxttn,  vol.  ii.  p.  83. 


20  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

ual  airs.  And  Jerome  relates,  of  the  place 
where  he  lived,  that  one  could  not  go  into 
the  field  without  hearing  the  ploughman  at 
his  hallelujahs,  the  mower  at  his  hymns,  and 
the  vinedresser  singing  the  Psalms  of  David. 
It  was  not  merely  at  noon,  and  in  time  of 
their  meals,  that  the  primitive  Christians 
read  the  word  of  God,  and  sang  praises  to 
•his  name.  At  an  early  hour  in  the  morning, 
the  family  were  assembled,  when  a  portion 
of  Scripture  was  read  from  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, which  was  followed  by  a  hymn  and  a 
prayer,  in  which  thanks  were  offered  up  to 
the  Almighty  for  preserving  them  during  the 
silent  watches  of  the  night,  and  for  his  good- 
ness in  permitting  them  to  meet  in  health  of 
body,  and  soundness  of  mind ;  and  at  the 
same  time  his  grace  was  implored  to  defend 
them  amid  the  dangers  and  temptations  of 
the  day,  to  make  them  faithful  to  every  duty, 
and  enable  them  in  all  respects  to  walk 
worthy  of  their  Christian  vocation.  In  the 
evening,  before  retiring  to  rest,  the  family 
again  assembled,  when  the  same  form  of 
worship  was  observed  as  in  the  morning, 
with  this  difference,  that  the  service  was 
considerably  protracted  beyond   the  period 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  21 

which  could  conveniently  be  allotted  to  it  in 
the  commencement  of  the  day.  Besides  all 
these  observances,  they  were  in  the  habit  of 
rising  at  midnight,  to  engage  in  prayer  and 
the  singing  of  psalms,  a  practice  of  venerable 
antiquity,  and  which,  as  Dr.  Cave  justly  sup- 
poses, took  its  origin  from  the  first  times  of 
persecution,  when,  not  daring  to  meet  to- 
gether in  the  day,  they  were  forced  to  keep 
their  religious  assemblies  in  the  night.  "* 

When  wre  come  down  to  the  revival  of 
evangelical  piety,  at  the  Reformation,  we 
find  ourselves  in  the  midst  of  such  a  stream 
of  authority  and  example,  that  we  must 
content  ourselves  with  general  statements. 
Whatever  may  be  the  practice  of  their  de- 
generate sons,  the  early  Reformers  are  uni- 
versally known  to  have  set  great  value  on 
family  devotion.  The  prayers  of  Luther 
in  his  house  are  recorded  with  wrarmth  by 
his  coevals  and  biographers.  The  churches 
of  Germany,  in  a  better  day,  were  blessed 
with  a  wide  prevalence  of  household  piety. 
Similar  facts  are  recorded  of  Switzerland, 
France,  and  Holland. 

*  The  Antiquities  *  of  the   Christian   Church,  by  the  Rev. 
Lyman  Coleman,  second  edition,  p.  375. 
3 


22  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

But  in  no  country  has  the  light  of  the  dwel- 
ling burned  more  brightly  than  in  Scotland. 
Family-wTorship,  in  all  its  fulness,  was  coeval 
with  the  first  reformation  period.  Probably 
no  land,  in  proportion  to  its  inhabitants,  ever 
had  so  many  praying  families ;  probably  none 
has  so  many  now.  In  1647,  the  General  As- 
sembly issued  a  Directory  for  Family-Wor- 
ship, in  which  they  speak  as  follows : 

"  The  ordinary  duties  comprehended  under 
the  exercise  of  piety,  which  should  be  in  fa- 
milies, when  they  are  convened  to  that  effect, 
are  these :  First,  Prayer,  and  praises  per- 
formed, with  a  special  reference,  as  well  to 
the  condition  of  the  Kirk  of  God,  and  this 
kingdom,  as  to  the  present  state  of  the  family, 
and  every  member  thereof.  Next,  reading 
of  the  Scriptures,  with  catechizing  in  a  plain 
way,  that  the  understandings  of  the  simpler 
may  be  the  better  enabled  to  profit  under  the 
public  ordinances,  and  they  made  more  capa- 
ble to  understand  the  Scriptures  when  they 
are  read  :  together  with  godly  conferences 
tending  to  the  edification  of  all  the  mem- 
bers in  the  most  holy  faith  :  as  also,  admoni- 
tion and  rebuke,  upon  just  reasons,  from  those 
who  have  authority  in  the  family.     The  head 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  23 

of  the  family  is  to  take  care  that  none  of  the 
family  withdraw  himself  from  any  part  of 
family- worship ;  and  seeing  the  ordinary  per- 
formance of  all  the  parts  of  family-worship 
belongeth  properly  to  the  head  of  the  family, 
the  minister  is  to  stir  up  such  as  are  lazy, 
and  train  up  such  as  are  weak,  to  a  fitness  for 
these  exercises."  "  So  many  as  can  conceive 
prayer,  ought  to  make  use  of  that  gift  of  God ; 
albeit,  those  who  are  rude  and  weaker  may  he- 
gin  at  a  set  form  of  prayer  ;  but  so  that  they 
be  not  sluggish  in  stirring  up  in  themselves 
(according  to  their  daily  necessities)  the  spirit 
of  prayer,  which  is  given  to  all  the  children 
of  God  in  some  measure :  to  which  effect, 
they  ought  to  be  more  fervent  and  frequent 
in  secret  prayer  to  God,  for  enabling  of  their 
hearts  to  conceive,  and  their  tongues  to  ex- 
press, convenient  desires  to  God,  for  ineir 
family."  "  These  exercises  ought  to  be  per- 
formed in  great  sincerity,  without  delay,  lay- 
ing aside  all  exercises  of  worldly  business  or 
hinderances,  notwithstanding  the  mockings 
of  atheists  and  profane  men ;  in  respect  of  the 
great  mercies  of  God  to  this  land,  and  of  his 
corrections,  whereby  lately  he  hath  exercised 
us.     And  to  this  effect,  persons  of  eminency, 


24  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

and  all  elders  of  the  kirk,  not  only  ought  to 
stir  up  themselves  and  families  to  diligence 
herein,  but  also  to  concur  effectually,  that  in 
all  other  families,  where  they  have  power 
and  charge,  the  said  exercises  be  conscion- 
ably  performed." 

The  faithfulness  of  private  Christians,  in 
regard  to  this  duty,  was  made  matter  of  in- 
quiry by  church-courts.  By  the  Act  of  As- 
sembly, 1596,  ratified  December  17, 18,  1638, 
among  other  provisions  for  the  visitation  of 
churches,  by  presbyteries,  the  following  ques- 
tions were  proposed  to  the  heads  of  families: 
"  Do  the  elders  visit  the  families  within  the 
quarter  and  bounds  assigned  to  each  of  them  ? 
Are  they  careful  to  have  the  worship  of  God 
set  up  in  the  families  of  their  bounds  ?"  The 
minister,  also,  is  directed  in  his  pastoral  visits, 
to  ask,  '  Whether  God  be  worshipped  in  the 
family,  by  prayers,  praises,  and  reading  of 
the  Scriptures  ?  Concerning  the  behaviour 
of  servants  towards  God  and  towards  man ;  if 
they  attend  family  and  public  worship  ?  If 
there  be  catechizing  in  the  family?"* 

When  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  West- 

*  Recited  in  *  Overtures  of  General  Assembly,  A.  D.  1705, 
concerning  the  method  of  proceeding  in  Kirk-Sessions  and 
Presbyteries.' 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  25 

minster  Assembly  of  Divines  was  adopted  by 
the  Church  of  Scotland,  it  contained  this  pro- 
vision, which  is  still  valid  among  ourselves  : 
"  God  is  to  be  worshipped  every  where,  in 
spirit  and  in  truth ;  as  in  private  families 
daily,  and  in  secret  each  one  by  himself. "* 
In  conformity  with  these  principles,  the 
practice  of  family-worship  became  universal 
throughout  the  Presbyterian  body  in  Scot- 
land, and  among  all  the  Dissenters  in  Eng- 
land. In  Scotland  especially,  the  humblest 
persons,  in  the  remotest  cottages,  honoured 
God  by  daily  praise ;  and  nothing  is  more 
characteristic  of  the  people  at  this  day.  "  I 
have  sometimes  seen  family-worship  in  great 
houses,"  says  Mr.  Hamilton;  "but  I  have 
felt  that  God  was  quite  as  near  when  I  knelt 
with  a  praying  family  on  the  earthen  floor 
of  their  cottage.  I  have  known  of  family- 
worship  among  the  reapers  in  a  barn.  It 
used  to  be  common  in  the  fishing-boats  upon 
the  friths  and  lakes  of  Scotland.  I  have 
heard  of  its  being  observed  in  the  depths  of 
a  coal-pit."  So  marked  a  feature  in  the  cot- 
tage-life of  Scotland  could  not  be  overlooked 
by  Burns ;  and  happy  had  it  been  for  him, 

*  Confession  of  Faith,  chap.  xxi.  §  6. 
3* 


26  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

if  he  had  lived  more  in  accordance  with  the 
practice  of  his  praying  father.  It  has  been 
fitly  asked,  Where  in  Italy  or  Austria  shall  we 
meet  any  thing  like  the  "  Cotter's  Saturday 
Night?" 

The  cheerfu'  supper  done,  wi'  serious  face, 

They  round  the  ingle  form  a  circle  wide ; 
The  sire  turns  o'er  wi'  patriarchal  grace 

The  big  ha1  Bible,  ance  his  father's  pride ; 
His  bonnet  reverently  is  laid  aside, 

His  lyart  haffets  wearing  thin  and  bare  : 
Those  strains  that  once  did  sweet  in  Zion  glide, 

He  wales  a  portion  with  judicious  care  ; 
And,  Let  us  worship  God !  he  says  with  solemn  air. 

They  chant  their  artless  notes  in  simple  guise, 

They  tune  their  hearts,  by  far  their  noblest  aim 
Perhaps  Dundee's  wild  warbling  measures  rise, 

Or  sainted  Martyrs  worthy  of  the  name, 
Or  noble  Elgin  beats  the  heavenward  flame, 

The  sweetest  far  of  Scotia* S"ho\y  lays. 
Compared  with  these  Italian  trills  are  tame ; 

The  tickled  ears  no  heart-felt  raptures  raise, 
Nae  unison  hae  they  with  our  Creator's  praise. 

The  priest-like  father  reads  the  sacred  page, 

How  Abram  was  the  friend  of  God  on  high, 
Or  Moses  bade  eternal  warfare  wage 

With  Amalek's  ungracious  progeny  ; 
Or  how  the  royal  bard  did  groaning  lie 

Beneath  the  stroke  of  Heaven's  avenging  ire ; 
Or  Job's  pathetic  plaint  and  wailing  cry  ; 

Or  rapt  Isaiah's  wild  seraphic  fire ; 
Or  other  holy  seers  that  tune  the  sacred  lyre. 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  27 

Perhaps  the  Christian  volume  is  the  theme : 

How  guiltless  blood  for  guilty  man  was  shed, 
How  He  who  bore  in  heaven  the  second  name, 

Had  not  on  earth  whereon  to  lay  his  head ; 
How  his  first  followers  and  servants  sped; 

The  precept  sage  they  wrote  to  many  a  land  : 
How  he  who  lone  in  Patmos  banished 

Saw  in  the  sun  a  mighty  angel  stand  ; 
And  heard  great  Babylon's  doom  pronounced  by  heaven's 
command. 

Then  kneeling  down  to  heaven's  eternal  King, 

The  saint,  the  father,  and  the  husband  prays, 
Hope  springs  exulting  on  triumphant  wing, 

That  thus  they  all  shall  meet  in  future  days  : 
There  ever  bask  in  uncreated  rays, 

No  more  to  sigh  or  shed  the  bitter  tear, 
Together  hymning  their  Creator's  praise, 

In  such  society,  yet  still  more  dear  ; 
While  circling  time  moves  round  in  an  eternal  sphere. 

Compared  with  this,  how  poor  religion's  pride, 

In  all  the  pomp  of  method  and  of  art, 
When  men  display  to  congregations  wide, 

Devotion's  every  grace  except  the  heart ; 
The  Power  incensed  the  pageant  will  desert, 

The  pompous  strain,  the  sacerdotal  stole  ; 
But  haply  in  some  cottage  far  apart, 

May  hear  well-pleased  the  language  of  the  soul, 
And  in  His  book  of  life  the  inmates  poor  enroll. 

The  excellency  of  this  picture  is,  that  it 
contains  not  a  stroke  of  fiction.  Such  scenes 
are  presented  week  after  week  among  the 
Scottish  peasantry.  They  are  such  as  the 
Presbyterians  of  America  have  known  from 


28  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

the  days  of  childhood.  Nor  were  they  alone 
in  this  "unspeakable  privilege.  The  fathers 
of  New  England,  having  drunk  into  the 
same  spirit,  left  the  same  legacy  to  their 
sons. 

It  is  highly  honourable  to  family- worship, 
as  a  spiritual  service,  that  it  languishes  and 
goes  into  decay  in  times  when  error  and 
worldliness  make  inroads  upon  the  church. 
This  has  been  remarkably  the  case  among 
some  of  the  Protestant  communities  of  the 
continent  of  Europe.  As  a  general  statement, 
it  must  be  said,  that  family- worship  is  not  so 
extensively  practised  there,  and  of  course  it 
cannot  be  so  highly  prized,  as  in  the  churches 
of  Great  Britain  and  America.  This  is  true, 
even  when  the  comparison  is  made  between 
those  in  the  respective  countries  whose  at- 
tachment to  the  gospel  appears  to  be  the 
same.  There  are  many,  especially  in  France 
and  Switzerland,  who  as  highly  value,  and  as 
regularly  maintain,  the  daily  worship  of  God, 
as  any  of  their  brethren  in  England  or  the 
United  States ;  but  they  constitute  exceptions 
to  the  above  statement,  rather  than  any 
refutation  of  it.  Christian  travellers  observe, 
however,  that  better  views  on  this  subject,  as 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  29 

on  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  are  de- 
cidedly on  the  increase  in  France  and  Swit- 
zerland ;  and  probably  to  a  certain  extent  in 
Germany,  and  other  countries  on  the  Con- 
tinent. This  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  trans- 
lation of  many  excellent  works  from  the 
English  into  French,  and  their  circulation  in 
those  countries,  within  the  last  few  years. * 

From  what  has  been  said,  it  is  manifest, 
that  the  universal  voice  of  the  Church,  in  its 
best  periods,  has  been  in  favour  of  family- 
worship.  The  reason  of  this  has  also  be- 
come apparent.  It  is  a  service  due  to  God, 
in  regard  to  his  bountiful  and  gracious  rela- 
tion to  families,  as  such  ;  rendered  necessary 
by  the  w^ants,  temptations,  dangers,  and  sins 
of  the  family  state ;  and  in  the  highest  de- 
gree fit  and  right,  from  the  facilities  afforded 
for  maintaining  it,  by  the  very  condition  of 
every  household.  Of  its  benefits,  it  is  our 
purpose  to  speak,  in  the  ensuing  chapters. 
For  the  sake  of  method,  we  shall  consider 
the  influence  of  this  institution,  on  indivi- 
dual piety  ;  on  parents,  children,  anddomes- 

*  For  valuable  testimony  on  this  point,  I  am  indebted  to  my 
friend,  the  Rev.  Robert  Baird,  D.  D.,  than  whom  no  man  can 
be  a  more  competent  witness. 


30  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

tics ;  in  regard  to  intellectual  improvement, 
internal  harmony,  and  the  sanctified  use  of 
chastisements;  and  on  visiters  and  neigh- 
bours. We  shall  examine  its  influence  on 
the  preservation  of  sound  doctrine;  on  the 
church,  the  commonwealth,  and  posterity: 
and,  after  some  practical  suggestions  towards 
the  due  performance  of  the  duty,  we  shall 
urge  our  readers,  in  the  fear  of  God,  to  un- 
dertake it  without  delay. 


CHAPTER    II. 

INFLUENCE      OP      FAMILY-WORSHIP      ON      INDIVIDUAL 
PIETY. 

From  the  moment  when  we  first  repeat  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  saying  '*  Our  Father,"  we 
are  taught  that  our  religion  is  social.  It  not 
only  influences  others,  but  is  exercised  and 
enjoyed  in  common  with  others.  What  a 
monstrous  thing  it  would  be,  for  a  man  to 
spend  a  life-time  in  the  midst  of  fellow- 
beings,  without  ever  feeling  or  acting  to- 
wards  them  in  a  religious   capacity!     We 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  31 

can  scarcely  conceive  of  true  light  as  so  hid- 
den under  a  bushel.  Solitary  experience 
like  this,  would  be  worse  than  monkery,  for 
that  is  social;  worse  than  the  seclusion  of 
the  anchoret,  for  that  is  removed  from  wit- 
nesses. Where  the  Spirit  of  God  really 
operates  on  a  soul,  He  brings  it  into  fellow- 
ship with  other  renewed  souls,  and  renders  it 
a  centre  of  radiance  to  all  around. 

If  this  is  true  of  the  great  body  of  men,  it 
is  more  eminently  true  of  the  family-group. 
In  religion  "  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone."  The  experience  of  the  heart  is  the 
grand  thing,  and  this  is  best  promoted  in  the 
secrecy  of  the  closet :  yet  it  must  not,  and 
cannot,  abide  in  the  closet  or  the  heart ;  but 
will  be  like  "  the  ointment  of  the  right-hand, 
wThich  bewray eth  itself;"  like  the  alabaster- 
box  of  fragrance,  that  filleth  all  the  house. 
Love,  which  is  the  great  manifestation  of 
grace,  is  too  communicative  in  its  nature  to 
be  always  pent  up.  The  electric  current  will 
pervade  all  whose  hands  are  joined  in  the  do- 
mestic circle.  They  wTill  feel  together,  read 
God's  word  together,  sing  together,  and  pray 
together  :  and  it  is  indispensable,  that  there 
should  be  some  established  mode  of  cherish- 


32  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

ing  and  evincing   this   fellowship  of  expe- 
rience. 

While  we  should  all  beware  of  that  species 
of  religion  which  has  no  privacy,  and  which 
lives  only  on  the  excitements  and  sympathies 
of  social  ordinances,  we  should  not,  therefore, 
overlook  the  legitimate  influence  of  united 
prayer  and  praise.  Single  coals  die  out; 
when  drawn  together,  they  break  into  a 
flame.  If  the  closet-worship  is  more  solemn 
and  lowly,  the  family-worship  may  be  more 
elevated  and  affectionate.  Especially  where 
the  head  of  the  family  is  one  who  grows  in 
grace  and  Christian  knowledge,  he  will  by 
his  very  presence  lift  up  the  hearts  of  his 
household.  The  child,  and  the  servant,  and 
the  guest,  will  be  carried  up  to  higher  ad- 
vances of  devout  feeling,  by  one  who  has  sc 
far  outstripped  them  in  the  flight. 

Summon  a  family  to  the  worship  of  God, 
at  stated  hours,  and  you  summon  each  one  to 
a  seriousness  of  reflection,  of  which  he  might 
have  been  wholly  robbed,  by  the  hurry  of 
the  day's  business.  He  who  perhaps  ne- 
glects all  private  perusal  of  the  Scriptures, 
is  constrained  to  hear  a  portion  read  by  one 
whom  he  reveres.     He  who  prays  but  for- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  33 

mally,  or  prays  not  at  all,  in  his  chamber, 
finds  himself  in  this  sacred  hour  kneeling 
among  a  reverent  company,  and  is  prompted 
by  the  ardent  words  of  supplication  to  lift  up 
his  heart  unto  the  Lord. 

There  is  no  member  of  a  household  whose 
individual  piety  is  of  such  importance  to  all 
the  rest,  as  the  father  or  head ;  and  there  is 
no  one  whose  soul  is  so  directly  influenced 
by  the  exercise  of  domestic  worship.  Where 
the  head  of  a  family  is  lukewarm  or  worldly, 
he  will  send  the  chill  through  the  whole 
house;  and  if  any  happy  exception  occur, 
and  one  and  another  surpass  him  in  faithful- 
ness, it  will  be  in  spite  of  his  evil  example. 
He  who  ought,  by  his  instructions  and  life, 
to  afford  a  perpetual  incitement  to  his  infe- 
riors and  his  juniors,  is  made  to  feel,  in  case 
of  such  delinquency,  that  they  must  look 
elsewhere  for  guidance,  even  if  they  do  not 
weep  in  secret  places  over  his  neglects. 
Where  the  head  of  the  family  is  a  man  of 
faith,  of  affection,  and  of  zeal,  consecrating 
all  his  works  and  life  to  Christ,  it  is  very 
rare  to  find  all  his  household  otherwise- 
minded.  Now  one  of  the  chief  means  of 
promoting    such   individual   graces   in    the 


34  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

head,  is  this  his  daily  exercise  of  devotion 
with  the  members.  It  is  more  to  him,  than 
to  others.  It  is  he  who  presides  and  directs 
in  it ;  who  selects  and  delivers  the  precious 
word;  and  who  leads  the  common  supplica- 
tion, confession,  and  praise.  To  him,  it  is 
equal  to  an  additional  act  of  personal  devo- 
tion, in  the  day  ;  but  it  is  more.  It  is  an  act 
of  devotion,  in  which  his  affection  and  duty 
to  his  house  are  particularly  brought  before 
his  mind ;  and  in  which  he  stands  in  the 
place,  and  pleads  the  cause,  of  all  that  he 
holds  dearest  upon  earth.  No  one  need 
wonder,  then,  that  we  place  family-prayer 
among  the  most  important  means  of  reviving 
and  maintaining  the  piety  of  him  who  con- 
ducts it.  We  shall  revert  to  this  topic,  in  its 
more  special  reference  to  the  parent  and  the 
master. 

Observation  shows  that  families  which 
have  no  household  worship,  are  at  a  low 
ebb  in  spiritual  things ;  that  families  where 
it  is  performed  in  a  cold,  sluggish,  negligent, 
or  hurried  way,  are  little  affected  by  it,  and 
little  affected  by  any  means  of  grace ;  and 
that  families  where  God  is  worshipped,  every 
morning  and  evening,  by  all  the  inmates  of 
the  house  in  a  solemn  and  affectionate  ser- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  35 

vice,  are  blessed  with  increase  of  piety  and 
happiness.  Every  individual  is  blessed. 
Each  one  receives  a  portion  of  the  heavenly 
food. 

Half  the  defects  and  transgressions  of  our 
days  arise  from  want  of  consideration.  Hence 
the  unspeakable  value  of  an  exercise,  which 
twice  every  day  calls  each  member  of  the 
household  at  least  to  think  of  God.  Even 
the  most  careless  or  impious  son,  or  servant, 
must  now  and  then  be  forced  to  talk  a  little 
with  conscience,  and  meditate  a  little  on  judg- 
ment, when  the  grey-haired  father,  bowed 
before  God,  with  trembling  voice  pours  out 
strong  supplication  and  prayer.  How  much 
more  mighty  must  be  the  influence  on  that 
larger  number,  who  in  ten.  thousand  Chris- 
tian families  in  the  land,  are  more  or  less  im- 
pressed with  the  importance  of  divine  things ! 
And  how  peculiar  and  tender  and  forming 
must  the  same  influence  be,  on  those  of  the 
domestic  group,  who  worship  God  in  the 
spirit,  and  who  often  wipe  the  gushing  tear, 
as  they  rise  from  their  knees,  and  look  around 
on  husband,  father,  mother,  brother,  sister, 
child — all  remembered  in  the  same  devotion, 
all  clouded  with  the  same  incense  of  inter- 
cession ! 


36  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Perhaps  among  our  readers,  more  than  one 
can  say:  "Times without  number  have  I  felt 
the  influence  of  domestic  worship  on  my  own 
soul.  When  yet  a  child,  no  one  means  of 
grace,  public  or  private,  so  awakened  my  at- 
tention, as  when  the  children  were  prayed 
for  day  by  day.  In  wayward  youth,  I  was 
never  so  stung  by  conviction  of  my  sin,  as 
when  my  honoured  father  earnestly  besought 
God  for  our  salvation.  When  at  length  in 
infinite  mercy  I  first  began  to  open  the  ear  to 
instruction,  no  prayer  so  reached  my  heart,  or 
so  expressed  my  deep  affections,  as  those 
which  were  uttered  by  my  honoured  father.'' 

The  Gospel  has  this  great  precedence  of  all 
other  systems,  that  it  is  preached  to  the  poor. 
If  mankind  in  general  find  good  in  religion, 
the  poor  and  wretched  find  in  it  peculiar 
good.  This  is  true  of  all  means  and  ordi- 
nances ;  and  it  is  eminently  true  of  family- 
worship.  We  have  often  had  occasion  to  ob- 
serve this  in  the  case  of  those  who  earn  their 
bread  by  labour.  The  working-man  often 
has  little  disposal  of  his  own  time,  and  little 
privacy  for  religious  acts.  He  rises,  it  may 
be,  long  before  day,  and  in  a  wintry  morning 
hastily  prepares  himself  to  join  others  in  la- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  37 

hour.  He  is  therefore  under  a  very  strong 
inducement  to  abridge,  if  not  to  omit,  the 
Scriptures  and  prayer.  It  is  of  immense 
value  for  one  in  such  circumstances,  to  be 
bound  by  the  sweet  yet  constraining  tie  of  a 
family-covenant,  to  redeem  time  and  call  his 
household  together  for  God's  praise.  Such 
acts  of  domestic  worship  are*  among  the 
sweetest  enjoyments  of  the  poor  man's  life. 
He  thus  has  ensured  to  him  a  stock  of  truth 
for  the  reflections  of  the  whole  day.  The 
son  and  daughter  who  go  forth  to  shop  or  fac- 
tory labour,  carry  with  them  some  remem-. 
brance  of  God.  And  when,  after  a  day  of 
honourable  toil,  they  re-assemble  in  the  even- 
ing, with  the  expectation  of  a  similar  ser- 
vice, it  is  to  enjoy  a  means  of  grace  which 
furnishes  each  individual  with  a  new  im- 
pulse towards  the  goal. 

Those  who  unite  every  day  in  solemn  acts 
of  worship,  are  thus  brought  to  a  comparison 
of  themselves  with  a  certain  standard.  They 
are  made  to  recognise  themselves,  and  to  re- 
cognise one  another,  as  servants  of  God.  It 
is  not  unnatural,  therefore,  that  each  one 
should  sometimes  be  led  at  such  a  moment 
to  say  to  himself,  What  is  this?     In  what 

4% 


38  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

character  am  I  appearing?  I  am  professing 
to  honour  God ;  but  how  does  this  comport 
with  what  I  have  been  doing,  saying,  think- 
ing, or  omitting,  this  day  ?  Such  an  aid  to 
self-culture  is  not  to  be  despised.  True,  the 
same  holds  good  in  regard  to  public  worship 
and  ordinances ;  but  this  is  a  daily  ordinance, 
an  oft-repeated  influence;  and  it  is  by  the 
manna  wThich  falls  every  day  at  the  door  of 
the  tent,  that  our  souls  are  kept  alive. 

We  all  know  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as 
sacramental,  sabbath,  or  periodical  religion ; 
a  habit  of  mind  to  be  put  on  and  off,  like  the 
habit  of  the  body.  Family- worship  has  a 
direct  and  manifest  tendency  to  make  reli- 
gion a  matter  of  every-day  interest.  He  who 
appears  before  God  twice  a  day,  with  his 
nearest  friends  and  familiars,  cannot  easily 
fail  to  acknowledge  his  need  of  "  a  real  busi- 
ness-change in  the  heart,  and  in  the  princi- 
ples of  acting.'7*  Suppose  him,  during  the 
day,  to  have  slidden  into  the  ways  of  a  most 
slippery  world,  to  have  spoken  unadvisedly 
with  his  lips,  to  have  broken  into  wrath,  or 
to  have  strained  a  point  of  integrity  in  buy- 
ing or  selling :  when  he  comes  home  to  his 

*  Chalmers. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  39 

evening-devotion,  he  must  be  a  seared  world- 
ling, or  a  double-masked  hypocrite,  if  he  does 
not  admit  some  compunction,  and  resolve  on 
some  amendment. 

Family-worship  furnishes  a  means  of  mak- 
ing increased  graces  in  the  head  of  the  house- 
hold available  to  the  benefit  of  the  members. 
It  is  not  every  sincere  servant  of  Christ,  who 
has  the  gift  of  free  and  acceptable  and  im- 
pressive discourse  on  divine  subjects ;  though 
the  attainment  should  be  sought  by  all.  The 
hinderances  are  various  :  lack  of  education ; 
consciousness  of  small  attainment ;  slowness 
of  speech;  natural  diffidence;  inexcusable 
pride  or  false  shame ;  and  a  sense  of  incon- 
sistency in  the  life.  These  causes  may  ope- 
rate to  keep  the  father  of  a  family  in  a  state 
of  inactive  insulation.  Nothing  tends  so  di- 
rectly to  break  a  channel  for  right  influences, 
in  this  respect,  as  the  regular  and  faithful  ob- 
servance of  domestic  worship.  A  word  fitly 
spoken,  at  such  a  time,  is  an  apple  of  gold. 
A  psalm,  rightly  chosen,  and  sung  with  the 
spirit  and  understanding,  may  bear  up  all 
hearts  to  God.  A  prayer,  "in  the  Holy 
Ghost,"  though  issuing  from  one  who  has 
not  the  lips  of  the  eloquent,  may  go  more 


40  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

deeply  into  the  soul  of  the  prodigal  son,  or 
the  careless  neighbour,  than  all  the  sermons 
of  the  year.  These  are  influences  which  are 
undervalued,  because  they  are  not  singly  pow- 
erful, yet  when  constant,  they  are  mighty; 
they  drop  as  the  rain,  and  distil  as  the  dew, 
"as  the  small  rain  upon  the  tender  herb,  and 
as  the  showers  upon  the  grass/'  In  the  day 
of  judgment  and  revelation,  it  will  perhaps 
appear,  in  the  case  of  many,  that  they  have 
owed  more  in  regard  of  individual  piety  to 
the  operation  of  family-religion,  than  to  any 
single  class  of  causes. 

In  reckoning  the  influence  of  domestic 
worship,  we  must  reflect,  that  aside  from  any 
thing  peculiar,  it  is  just  so  much  added  to  all 
the  other  institutions  of  religion.  It  comes 
day  after  day,  and  for  a  life-time.  I  have 
before  my  mind's  eye  "an  old  disciple,"  the 
son  of  an  old  disciple.  This  ancient  servant 
of  God,  now  eighty-four  years  of  age,  has 
enjoyed  this  means  of  instruction  and  ele- 
vation, since  he  was  competent  to  receive 
any  impression,  more  than  fifty  thousand 
times.  Let  no  one  smile  at  the  arithmetic  of 
the  statement :  it  will  .come  home  to  all  the 
children   of  the  church,  in   the  day  when 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  41 

"after  a  long  time,  the  Lord  of  those  servants 
cometh  and  reckoneth  with  them."* 

But  we  have  conceded  too  much.  Family- 
worship  has  striking  peculiarities  of  influ- 
ence. Its  lessons  and  devotions  begin  at  the 
earliest  period,  when  the  infant  soul  is  yield- 
ing as  wax.  Here  the  father,  or  the  grand- 
father, or  perhaps  the  Eunice  and  the  Lois,f 
reach  forth  the  moulding  influence  which  is 
to  last  for  life.  These  means  are  used  in  cir- 
cumstances peculiarly  tender,  when  the  heart 
is  above  all  susceptible ;  at  the  home  and  fire- 
side; among  objects  of  reverence;  in  the  circle 
of  love.  Here,  if  any  where,  the  individual 
soul  will  feel  the  word  to  be  "profitable  for  doc- 
trine, for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction 
in  righteousness. "J  Here,  if  any  where,  the 
heart  will  respond  to  the  call  of  devotion,  and 
be  prompted  to  burst  forth  in  prayer.  Here 
the  fainting  experience  will  plume  its  wings 
for  the  attempts  of  a  higher  flight ;  and  the 
joys  of  a  hidden  devotion  will  mingle  with 
the  flames  of  a  common  altar.  Can  our  Chris- 
tian life  readily  sacrifice  or  forego  the  aids 
and  comforts  of  such  an  institution  ?    Or  can 

*  Matthew  xxv.  19. 

f  2  Timothy  i.  5.  }  2  Timothy  iii.  16. 


42  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

lie,  who  has  received  so  great  a  blessing  from 
the  home  of  his  boyhood,  willingly  deny  it 
to  his  own  offspring  ? 

The  truth  must  not  be  concealed,  that  in 
order  to  realize  these  advantages  from  the 
worship  of  God  in  the  household,  we  must 
see  to  it,  that  it  is  conducted  in  a  due  man- 
ner. It  must  not  be  a  stated  formality,  how- 
ever punctual  or  decorous.  It  must  not  be 
the  empty  expression  of  a  life  which  does  not 
exist.  It  must  be  approached  as  if  we  were 
going  to  the  very  feet  of  Christ.  Those  who 
have  it  in  charge,  w7hether  fathers,  or  mothers, 
or  the  elder  son,  or  the  Levite  under  the  roof, 
must  be  in  a  state  of  preparation,  and  must 
eye  the  true  import  and  design  of  the  ordi- 
nance. Where  these  cautions  are  observed, 
it  will  never  fail  to  be  a  powerful  instrument 
in  awakening,  edifying,  and  comforting  the 
individual  soul. 


43 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE    INFLUENCE    OF    FAMILY-WORSHIP    ON    PARENTS. 

In  order  to  educate  the  children  of  a  land, 
we  must  first  educate  the  parents  :  and  if  an 
institution  were  demanded  for  this  special 
purpose,  it  would  be  impossible  to  find  one 
comparable  to  Family- Worship.  Some  things 
which  were  hinted  at,  in  the  foregoing  chap- 
ter, may  here  be  laid  open  more  explicitly. 

The  maintenance  of  domestic  religion  in 
every  house  is  primarily  entrusted  to  the  head 
of  the  family,  whoever  this  may  be.  If  he  is 
totally  unfitted  for  the  charge,  by  an  unbe- 
lieving mind,  or  an  ungodly  life,  the  consid- 
eration is  one  which  should  startle  and  appal 
him :  and  it  is  affectionately  submitted  to  any 
reader  whose  conscience  may  plead  guilty  to 
such  an  imputation.  There  are  instances, 
where  divine  grace  has  so  endowed  some 
one  of  the  household,  even  though  not  the 
parent,  or  the  senior,  as  plainly  to  devolve 
on  him  the  performance  of  this  duty.  The 
widowed  mother,  or  the  elder  sister,  or  the 
actual  guardian,  may  stand  in  the  parent's 


44  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

place.  But  inasmuch  as  in  a  majority  of 
cases,  the  service  if  rendered  at  all  must  be 
rendered  by  the  father,  we  shall  treat  the 
subject  under  this  supposition;  premising, 
that  the  principles  laid  down  apply  in  most 
of  their  extent  to  all  the  other  influences. 

No  man  can  approach  the  duty  of  leading 
his  household  in  an  act  of  devotion,  without 
solemn  reflection  on  the  place  which  he  oc- 
cupies in  regard  to  them.  He  is  their  head. 
He  is  such  by  a  divine  and  unalterable  con- 
stitution. These  are  duties  and  prerogatives 
which  he  cannot  alienate.  There  is  some- 
thing more  than  mere  precedence  in  age, 
knowledge,  or  substance.  He  is  the  father 
and  the  master.  No  act  of  his,  and  nothing 
in  his  character,  can  fail  to  leave  a  mark  on 
those  around  him.  This  he  will  be  apt  to 
feel  when  he  calls  them  about  him  to  pray  to 
God;  and  the  more  devoutly  he  addresses 
himself  to  the  work,  the  more  will  he  feel  it. 
Though  all  priesthood,  in  the  proper  sense, 
is  now  done  away  on  earth,  and  absorbed  in 
the  functions  of  the  great  High  Priest,  there 
is  still  something  like  a  priestly  intervention 
in  the  service  of  the  Christian  patriarch.  He 
is  now  about  to  go  before  the  little  flock  in 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  45 

the  oblation  of  a  spiritual  sacrifice  of  prayer 
and  adoration.  Thus  it  is  said,  respecting 
Christ :  "  By  him,  therefore,  let  us  offer  the 
sacrifice  of  praise  to  God  continually;  that  is, 
the  fruit  of  our  lips,  giving  thanks  to  his 
name."*  This  perpetual  offering,  the  head 
of  the  family  is  about  to  make.  Until  long 
perseverance  in  a  deadening  formality  of  rou- 
tine shall  have  blunted  all  sensibility,  he  must 
yield  to  the  solemn  impression.  It  will  some- 
times lie  like  a  burden  at  his  heart;  it  will 
sometimes  swell  within  his  affections,  like 
"wine  which  hath  no  vent."f  These  are 
salutary  and  elevating  emotions,  which  go  to 
form  the  grave  and  lofty  character  which 
may  be  observed  in  the  old  peasantry  of  Scot- 
land. Though  he  be  but  a  poor  and  unlet- 
tered man,  who  bows  his  hoary  head  amidst 
a  band  of  sons  and  daughters,  yet  is  he  more 
sublimely  honoured  than  prayerless  kings. 
His  head  is  encircled  with  that  "  crown  of 
glory,"  which  is  found  "in  the  way  of  right- 
eousness." %  The  father  who,  year  after  year, 
presides  in  the  sacred  domestic  assembly, 
submits  himself  to  an  influence  which  is  in- 

Heb.  xiii.  15.  f  Job  xxxii.  19.  {  Prov*  xv*-  31. 

5 


46  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

calculably  strong  on  his  own  parental  char- 
acter. 

Where  is  a  parent  so  likely  to  admit  the 
impression  of  his  responsibility,  as  where  he 
gathers  his  household  for  worship?  It  is  true, 
at  all  times,  that  he  is  bound  to  watch  for 
their  souls;  but  now  he  is  placed  where  he 
must  feel  it  to  be  true.  His  family  are  met 
in  a  religious  capacity,  and  looking  up  to  him 
for  guidance.  His  eye  cannot  light  on  a  sin- 
gle member  of  the  group  who  is  not  commit- 
ted to  his  especial  charge.  Among  all  these 
there  is  not  one  for  wThom  he  shall  not  give 
account  at  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  The 
wife  of  his  youth !  to  wThom  shall  she  look  for 
spiritual  watch,  if  not  to  him  ?  And  how  un- 
natural the  family-relation,  when  this  guar- 
dianship is  repudiated,  and  this  relation  re- 
versed !  The  children !  if  ever  saved,  it  will 
probably  be  in  some  degree  consequent  on  his 
exertions.  Domestics,  and  apprentices,  and 
sojourners,  are  all  committed  for  a  term  longer 
or  shorter,  to  his  care.  The  domestic  minister 
will  surely  cry,  Who  is  sufficient  for  these 
things?  and  most  of  all  when  in  the  very  per- 
formance of  these  duties.  If  his  conscience  is 
kept  awake,  by  personal  acquaintance  with 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  47 

God,  lie  will  never  enter  upon  family- wor- 
ship without  sentiments,  which  involve  this 
very  accountability :  and  such  sentiments 
cannot  but  have  their  impression  on  the  pa- 
rental character. 

Unspeakable  good  would  ensue,  if  every 
father  could  feel  himself  to  be  the  earthly, 
but  divinely-appointed,  head-spring  of  religi- 
ous influence  to  his  household.  Is  it  not 
true?  and  is  there  any  means  of  making  him 
feel  it  to  be  true,  which  can  be  compared  to 
the  institution  of  Family- Worship  ?  Now  he 
has  assumed  his  rightful  place,  as  an  instruc- 
ter,  a  guide,  and  an  exemplar  in  devotion. 
Now  his  mouth,  even  though  he  be  a  silent 
or  a  bashful  man,  is  opened.  Now  he  can, 
at  least,  rehearse  the  "  words  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  speaketh,"  and  give  outlet  to  the  gush 
of  pent-up  emotions.  Perhaps  some  word 
may  reach  the  son,  or  the  servant,  long 
estranged.  Perhaps  some  prayer,  more  ar- 
dent, more  believing  than  usual,  may  find 
audience  for  these  beloved,  immortal  souls. 
He  is  in  the  posture  for  seeing  and  for  feel- 
ing these  things;  and  that  is  no  despicable 
instrument  in  the  education  of  the  parent, 
which  puts  him  into  this  posture. 


48  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

The  hour  of  domestic  prayer  and  praise  is 
also  the  hour  of  scriptural  instruction.  The 
father  has  opened  God's  word,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  his  little  flock.  He  thus  admits  him- 
self to  be  its  teacher  and  under-shepherd. 
Perhaps  he  is  but  a  plain  man,  living  by  his 
labour,  unused  to  schools  or  libraries,  and, 
like  Moses,  "slow  of  speech,  and  of  a  slow 
tongue."  Nevertheless,  he  stands  by  the 
open  well  of  wisdom,  and,  like  the  same 
Moses,  may  draw  water  enough  and  water 
the  flock.*  For  the  time,  he  sits  "in  Moses' 
seat,"  and  no  longer  "occupieth  the  room  of 
the  unlearned."  This  is  encouraging  and 
ennobling.  As  the  loving  mother  rejoices  to 
be  the  fountain  of  nourishment  to  the  babe 
which  clings  to  her  warm  bosom,  so  the 
Christian  father  delights  to  convey,  even  by 
reverent  reading,  "the  pure  milk  of  the 
word."  He  has  found  it  good  to  his  own 
soul ;  he  rejoices  in  an  appointed  means  of 
conveying  it  to  his  offspring.  As  Jonathan, 
when  he  said,  "  See,  I  pray  you,  how  mine 
eyes  have  been  enlightened,  because  I  tasted 
a  little  of  this  honey,"f  so  he  desires  to  dis- 

*  Exod.  ii.  19.  t  1  Sam.  xiv.  29. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  49 

pense  to  his  household  that  word  of  the  Lord, 
which  is  "sweeter  than  honey  and  the  honey- 
comb."* The  humblest  master  of  a  house 
may  well  feel  himself  exalted  by  recognising 
such  a  relation  to  those  who  are  under  his 
care. 

The  example  of  a  father  is  acknowledged 
to  be  all-important.  The  stream  must  not 
be  expected  to  rise  higher  than  the  fountain. 
The  Christian  householder  will  feel  himself 
constrained  to  say :  I  am  leading  my  family 
in  solemn  addresses  to  God ;  what  manner  of 
man  should  I  be !  how  wise,  holy,  and  ex- 
emplary !  This  undoubtedly  has  been,  in 
cases  innumerable,  the  direct  operation  of 
Family- Worship  on  the  father.  As  we  know 
that  worldly  men,  and  inconsistent  profes- 
sors, are  deterred  from  performing  this  duty 
by  the  consciousness  of  a  discrepance  be- 
tween their  life  and  any  acts  of  devotion,  so 
humble  Christians  are  led  by  the  same  com- 
parison to  be  more  circumspect,  and  to  order 
their  ways  in  such  a  manner  as  may  edify 
their  dependants.  There  cannot  be  too  many 
motives   to  a  holy  life,  nor  too  many  safe- 

*  Psalm  xix.  10. 

5* 


50  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

guards  to  parental  example.  Establish  the 
worship  of  God  in  any  house,  and  you  erect 
around  it  a  new  barrier  against  the  irruption 
of  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil. 

The  master  of  the  house,  in  Family- Wor- 
ship, appears  as  the  intercessor  for  his  house- 
hold.- The  great  Intercessor  is  indeed  above, 
but  "  supplications,  prayers,  intercessions,  and 
giving  of  thanks"*  are  to  be  made  below; 
and  by  whom,  if  not  by  the  father,  for  his 
family?  The  thought  of  this  must  bring 
solemn  reflections.  The  parent  who,  with 
any  sincerity,  comes  daily  to  implore  bless- 
ings on  his  wife,  children,  and  domestics, 
will  bethink  himself  as  to  what  they  need. 
Here  will  be  an  urgent  motive  to  inquire  into 
their  wants,  temptations,  weaknesses,  errors, 
and  transgressions.  The  eye  of  a  genuine 
father  will  be  quick,  his  heart  will  be  sensi- 
tive on  these  points :  and  the  hour  of  devo- 
tion will  gather  these  solicitudes  together. 
From  such  a  motive,  as  we  have  already  seen, 
holy  Job,  after  the  festivities  of  his  children, 
"  sent  and  sanctified  them,  and  rose  up  early 
in  the  morning,  and  offered  burnt-offerings, 

*  1  Tim.  ii.  10. 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  5 1 

according  to  the  number  of  them  all;  for  Job 
said,  It  may  be  that  m)^  sons  have  sinned,  and 
cursed  God  in  their  hearts.  Thus  did  Job 
continually"*  Whatever  may  have  been  the 
effect  on  the  sons,  the  effect  on  Job  himself 
was,  no  doubt,  an  awakening  of  mind  as  to 
his  parental  responsibility;  and  such  is  the 
effect  of  Family-Worship  on  the  head  of,a 
household. 

The  father  of  a  family  is  under  a  whole- 
some influence,  when  he  is  brought  every 
day  to  take  a  post  of  observation,  and  say  to 
his  own  heart,  "  By  this  single  means,  in  ad- 
dition to  all  others,  I  am  exerting  some  defi- 
nite influence,  good  or  bad,  upon  all  who 
surround  me.  I  cannot  omit  this  service, 
needlessly;  perhaps  I  cannot  omit  it  at  all, 
without  detriment  to  my  house.  I  cannot 
read  the  word,  I  cannot  sing,  I  cannot  pray, 
without  leaving  some  trace  on  the  tender 
mind.  How  solemnly,  how  affectionately, 
how  believingly,  should  I  then  approach  this 
ordinance !  with  how  much  godly  fear  and 
preparation!  My  conduct  in  this  worship 
may  save  or  may  kill.      Here  is  my  great 

*  Job  i.  5. 


52  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

channel  for  reaching  the  case  of  those  who 
are  submitted  to  my  charge."  These  are 
wholesome  thoughts,  naturally  engendered 
by  a  daily  ordinance  which  too  many  regard 
as  little  better  than  a  form. 

The  Christian  husband  needs  to  be  remind- 
ed of  his  obligations ;  he  cannot  be  reminded 
of  them  too  often.  The  respect,  the  forbear- 
ance, the  love,  which  the  Scriptures  enjoin 
towards  the  feebler  and  more  dependent  party 
in  the  conjugal  alliance,  and  which  are  the 
crown  and  glory  of  Christian  wedlock,  are 
never  more  brought  into  action,  than  when 
they  who  have  plighted  their  faith  to  one 
another,years  ago,  are  brought  day  by  day  to 
the  place  of  prayer,  and  lift  up  a  united  heart 
at  the  feet  of  infinite  mercy.  As  the  head  of 
every  man  is  Christ,  so  the  head  of  the  wo- 
man is  the  man.*  His  post  is  responsible, 
and  that  in  spirituals.  He  can  seldom  feel  it 
more  sensibly  than  when  he  falls  down  with 
the  partner  of  his  burdens  at  the  throne  of 
grace. 

The  father  sees  his  children  before  him. 
The  word  which  he  reads  to  them,  contains 

*  1  Cor.  xi.  3. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  53 

his  duties  to  them.  Whatsoever  there  may- 
be of  paternal  affection  within  him,  must 
break  forth  at  such  a  moment ;  and  the  fre- 
quent repetition  of  such  sentiments  must 
educate  the  heart. 

The  master — if  I  may  employ  a  term  which 
is  in  a  fair  way  to  be  obsolete,  in  our  day  of 
license  and  levelling — calls  together  his  ser- 
vants, and  all  under  his  control,  for  the  wor- 
ship of  God.  If  forgetful  of  it  at  other  times, 
he  must  now  acknowledge  and  feel,  at  least 
on  some  occasions,  that  the  salvation  of  his 
dependants  is,  to  a  certain  extent,  consigned 
to  his  care.  If  he  can  do  no  more,  he  can 
read  God's  word  to  them ;  he  can  pray  for 
them.  It  is  not,  however,  the  effect  on  the 
servant  or  child,  but  the  effect  on  the  master 
and  father,  that  we  are  now  considering. 
Let  any  reflective  mind  contemplate  the  sub- 
ject, and  he  will  be  persuaded  that  there  must 
be  a  marked  and  increasing  difference  be- 
tween the  parental  feelings  and  principles  of 
one  who  habitually  worships  God  in  his. 
family,  and  one  who  worships  him  not,  It  is 
no  trifle  to  have  religion  perpetually  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  parental  relation.  In  the 
shop,  the  market,  the  field,  the  highway,  the 


54  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

office,  the  exchange,  and  even  in  the  pulpit, 
the  father  may  forget  that  he  is  a  father :  he 
cannot  forget  it  when  the  curtain  has  drop- 
ped, when  the  circle  draws  more  closely 
around  the  hearth,  when  the  wife  of  his  youth 
welcomes  him  to  prayer,  and  when  the  eyes 
of  his  little  ones  are  fixed  on  him  as  the  min- 
ister of  God  to  their  souls.  I  no  longer  mar- 
vel that  Christianity  becomes  a  dying,  empty, 
thing,  in  the  houses  of  those  professors  (alas, 
that  there  should  be  such!)  wThere  there  is 
no  joint  worship  of  God. 

In  the  rage  for  amassing  wealth,  which 
threatens  the  church  among  us,  and  especial- 
ly in  our  great  commercial  cities,  there  is  an 
estranging  •process  going  on,  which  we  fear 
is  too  little  observed.  Such  is  the  insane 
precipitation  with  which  the  man  of  business 
rushes  to  his  morning's  task,  and  such  the 
length  of  his  absence  from  home,  often  ex- 
tending till  the  hours  of  darkness,  that  he 
gradually  loses  some  of  that  parental  tender- 
ness which  Providence  keeps  alive  by  the 
presence  of  those  whom  we  love.  The  long 
continuance  of  such  habits  cannot  fail  to 
affect  the  character.  Of  all  persons  in  the 
world,  he  should  be  most  willing  to  take  time 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  55 

for  family-devotion,  who  is  by  his  very  em- 
ployment shut  out  from  his  home  most  of 
every  day.  The  paternal  heart  demands  this 
hour  of  culture.  A  deliberate  service,  in 
which  the  voices  of  infancy  and  age  unite  in 
praising  God,  amidst  the  flow  of  mutual  affec- 
tion, is  a  blessed  means  of  countervailing  the 
hard  and  selfish  world  which  surrounds  him. 
But  above  all  does  the  Christian  parent  need 
something  to  keep  him  constantly  in  remem- 
brance that  his  children  have  souls ;  that  they 
look  to  him  for  more  than  their  earthly  sup- 
port, and  that  there  are  means  whereby,  un- 
der God,  he  may  be  the  instrument  of  their 
salvation.  If,  amidst  the  avocations  of  this 
life,  he  seldom  finds  time  to  deal-  faithfully 
with  their  souls ;  if  he  rarely  conveys  to  them 
any  sign  of  fear  for  their  safety;  if  he  is 
dumb  in  respect  to  Christ  and  eternity;  here 
is  a  daily  service,  of  which  the  direct  ten- 
dency will  be  to  arouse  him  to  these  duties. 
Can  it  be  possible  for  a  man  to  pray  earnestly 
for  the  salvation  of  his  children,  in  their  hear- 
ing, representing  them  to  God  in  earnest  sup- 
plication, as  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  while 
at  the  same  time,  he  leaves  them  to  wonder 
why  no  syllable  ever  falls  from  his  lips,  on 


56  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

those  momentous  subjects?  The  praying  pa- 
rent has  a  daily  remembrancer  of  these  and 
the  like  obligations ;  and  while  he  asks  hea- 
venly good  for  his  household,  he  will  some- 
times cry  to  God  for  grace  to  fulfil  them. 
The  answer  of  such  prayers  will  not  be  with- 
held. The  prayer-hearing  God  will  render 
him  a  better  parent,  will  endow  him  with 
those  peculiar  gifts,  for  which,  alas !  profess- 
ing parents  are  so  slow  to  seek;  and  will 
cause  him  to  discharge  the  obligations  of  this 
fearful  station,  in  a  better  manner,  to  say  the 
least,  than  those  who  hasten  through  life 
without  any  token  of  family -religion. 

Prayerless  parents  have  cause  to  tremble. 
God's  anger  may  light  upon  them  in  their 
parental  relation,  as  Eli's  neglect  was  visit- 
ed.* They  have  no  right  to  expect  parental 
happiness.  They  place  themselves  and  their 
household  in  the  defenceless  condition  of  the 
heathen.  "  Pour  out  thy  fury  upon  the  hea- 
then, that  know  thee  not,  and  upon  the 
families  that  call  not  on  thy  name/'f  Fam- 
ily-prayer invites  and  bespeaks  the  blessing 
of  God  on  all  concerned,  but  chiefly  on  him 

*  1  Sam.  iii.  13.  t  Jer.  x.  25. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  57 

who  leads  in  it.  Better  a  roofless  than  a 
prayerless  house:  better  beg  one's  bread,  with 
prayer,  than  deny  God  by  a  neglect  of  this 
chief  means  of  domestic  prosperity.  One  who 
has  any  genuine  religious  faith,  and  any  trust 
in  God's  promises,  must  be  assured,  that  in 
the  rearing  of  his  household,  in  providing  for 
their  support  and  education,  in  governing  and 
restraining  them,  and  in  labouring  for  their 
souls,  no  good  can  ensue,  but  by  the  blessing 
of  God :  and  this  blessing,  in  the  way  of  direc- 
tion and  grace,  the  Christian  parent  should 
join  with  his  family  in  asking,  every  day 
So  doing  he  will  be  not  only  a  better  man, 
but  a  better  father.  He  will  love  his  children 
more,  and  more  wisely.  He  will  be  doubly 
a  parent  to  them,  by  the  power  and  affection 
of  a  holy  example.  He  will  be  better  able  to 
bear  those  reverses  and  bereavements  which 
may  befall  him.  "But  how  shocking  is  the 
prospect,  if  you  are  determined  to  resist  con- 
viction, and  live  in  the  wilful  neglect  of  this 
duty  !  Your  families  are  like  to  be  nurseries 
for  hell ;  or  if  there  should  be  an  Abijah  in 
them,  'one  in  whom  some  good  thing  is 
found  toward  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,'*  no 

*  1  Kinofs  xiv.  13. 


58  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

thanks  to  you  for  it ;  you  must  be  punished 
for  your  neglect  of  him,  as  though  he  had 
perished  by  your  iniquity."* 


CHAPTER    IV. 

INFLUENCE    OP    FAMILY-WORSHIP    ON    CHILDREN. 

There  are  many  readers  of  these  pages  who, 
like  the  author,  can  go  back  to  no  period  of 
recollection  in  which  the  worship  of  God 
was  not  duly  observed  under  the  parental 
roof;  and  they  will  agree  in  testifying  that 
this  is  among  the  chief  blessings  for  which 
they  have  to  thank  an  ever-gracious  Pro- 
vidence. If  called  upon  to  name  the  princi- 
pal benefit  of  the  institution,  we  should  indi- 
cate its  benign  operation  on  the  children  of 
the  house. 

The  simple  fact,  that  parents  and  offspring 
meet  together  every  morning  and  evening, 
for  the  word  of  God  and  prayer,  is  a  great 
fact  in  household  annals.     It  is  the  inscri- 

*  President  Da  vies. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  59 

bing  of  God's  name  over  the  lintel  of  the  door. 
It  is  the  setting  up  of  God's  altar.  The 
dwelling  is  marked  as  a  house  of  prayer.  Re- 
ligion is  thus  made  a  substantive  and  promi- 
nent part  of  the  domestic  plan.  The  day  is 
opened  and  closed  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
From  the  very  dawn  of  reason,  each  little 
one  grows  up  with  a  feeling  that  God  must 
be  honoured  in  every  thing ;  that  no  business 
of  life  can  proceed  without  Him ;  and  that  the 
day's  work,  or  study,  would  be  unsheltered, 
disorderly,  and  in  a  manner  profane,  but  for 
this  consecration.  When  such  a  child  comes, 
in  later  years,  to  mingle  with  families  where 
there  is  no  worship,  there  is  an  unavoidable 
shudder,  as  if  among  heathen  or  infidel  com- 
panions. In  Greenland,  when  a  stranger 
knocks  at  the  door,  he  asks,  "  Is  God  in  this 
house?"  and  if  they  answer,  "  Yes,"  he  en- 
ters. 

As  prayer  is  the  main  part  of  all  Family- 
Worship,  so  the  chief  benefit  to  children  is 
that  they  are  the  subjects  of  such  prayer. 
As  the  great  topic  of  the  parent's  heart  is  his 
offspring,  so  they  will  be  his  great  burden  at 
the  throne  of  grace.  And  what  is  there, 
which  the  father  and  mother  can  ever  do  for 


fniri7BRsirril 


60  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

their  beloved  ones,  that  may  be  compared 
with  their  bearing  them  to  God  in  daily  sup- 
plication ?  And  when  are  they  so  likely  to 
do  this  with  melting  affection,  as  when  kneel- 
ing amidst  the  group  of  sons  and  daughters  ? 
And  what  prayers  are  more  likely  to  be  an- 
swered, than  those  which  are  offered  thus? 
The  direct  influence  of  family-prayer  is  then 
to  bring  down  the  benediction  of  Almighty 
God  upon  the  children  of  the  house.  In  say- 
ing this,  though  we  should  not  add  another 
word,  we  adduce  a  sufficient  and  triumphant 
reason  for  the  custom  of  our  fathers.  But 
there  are  incidental  and  collateral  advantages 
which  must  not  be  overlooked. 

Daily  worship,  in  common,  encourages 
children  to  acts  of  devotion.  It  reminds 
them,  however  giddy  or  careless  they  may^ 
be,  that  God  is  to  be  adored.  In  many  ways 
it  suggests  to  them  the  duty  and  blessedness 
of  praying  for  themselves.  They  are  here 
familiarized  with  what  may  be  called  the 
method  of  prayer ;  and  have  manifold  peti- 
tions brought  before  their  minds,  which  may 
afterwards  be  made  their  own.  While. the 
favoured  circle  is  bowed  before  God,  there  is 
scarcely  a  son  or  a  daughter  who  will  not 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  61 

sometimes  be  arrested  by  the  voice  of  the 
father  in  supplication,  and  prompted  to  ap- 
propriate the  petition.  In  many  instances, 
we  may  suppose,  the  first  believing  prayers  of 
the  Christian  youth  ascend  from  the  fireside. 
Slight  impressions,  otherwise  transient,  are 
thus  fixed,  and  infant  aspirations  are  carried 
up  with  the  volume  of  domestic  incense.  Is 
it  too  much  to  say,  that  in  this  way,  Family- 
Worship  becomes  the  means  of  everlasting 
salvation  to  multitudes  ? 

The  confessions,  thanksgivings,  and  peti- 
tions of  a  wise  householder,  will  take  their 
form  and  colour  from  the  circumstances  of 
his  house.  Unless  enslaved  to  a  rigid  form, 
he  cannot  but  vary  his  requests  with  the 
changing  condition  of  his  family;  and,  there- 
fore,  he  will  naturally  suit  his  words  of  devo- 
tion to  the  state  of  his  children.  It  must  be 
obvious,  that  in  this  way,  even  when  prayer 
is  most  singly  directed  to  its  proper  end,  a 
number  of  incidental  suggestions  must  occur, 
w^hich  will  carry  all  the  solemnity  and  pun- 
gency of  exhortation,  caution,  and  consola- 
tion. He  who  is  prayed  for,  will  know  and 
feel  that  he  is  prayed  for.  Paths  of  duty  wTill 
be  indicated ;  dangers  will  be  marked ;  sins 
6* 


62  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

will  be  arrayed  before  conscience;  divine 
blessings  will  be  set  forth  as  infinitely  de- 
sirable. By  the  same  means,  through  God's 
blessing,  incentives  to  piety  will  be  reiterated, 
convictions  deepened,  and  the  object  of  faith 
placed  in  open  light.  Where  all  this  is  done 
day  by  day,  the  heart  of  the  child  must  ex- 
perience some  affection,  until  it  be  steeled  by 
habitual  resistance. 

The  daily  regular  and  solemn  reading  of 
God's  holy  word,  by  a  parent  before  his  chil- 
dren, is  one  of  the  most  powerful  agencies  of 
a  Christian  life.  We  are  prone  to  undervalue 
this  cause.  It  is  a  constant  dropping,  but  it 
wears  its  mark  into  the  rock.  A  family  thus 
trained  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the  Word.  The 
whole  Scriptures  come  repeatedly  before  the 
mind.  The  most  heedless  child  must  observe 
and  retain  some  portion  of  the  sacred  oracles  : 
the  most  forgetful  must  treasure  up  some 
passages  for  life.  No  one  part  of  juvenile 
education  is  more  important.  Between  fami- 
lies thus  instructed,  and  those  where  the 
Bible  is  not  read,  the  contrast  is  striking. 
To  deny  such  a  source  of  influence  to  the 
youthful  mind  is  an  injustice,  at  the  thought 
of  which  a  professor  of  Christianity  may  well 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  63 

tremble.  The  filial  affections  are  moulded 
by  Family- Worship.  The  child  beholds  the 
parent  in  a  peculiar  relation.  Nowhere  is 
the  Christian  father  so  venerable  as  where  he 
leads  his  house  in  prayer.  The  tenderness 
of  love  is  hallowed  by  the  sanctity  of  rever- 
ence. A  chastened  awe  is  thrown  about  the 
familiar  form,  and  parental  dignity  assumes 
a  new  and  sacred  aspect.  There  is  surely 
nothing  unnatural  in  the  supposition  that  a 
froward  child  shall  find  it  less  easy  to  rebel 
against  the  rule  of  one  whom  he  daily  con- 
templates in  an  act  of  devotion.  The  chil- 
dren look  more  deeply  into  the  parents'  heart 
by  the  medium  of  family-prayer.  A  single 
burst  of  genuine  fatherly  anxiety  in  the  midst 
of  ardent  intercession,  may  speak  to  the  child 
a  volume  of  long-hidden  and  travailing  grief 
and  love.  Such  words,  uttered  on  the  knees, 
though  from  the  plain  untutored  man,  are 
sometimes  as  arrows  in  the  heart  of  uncon- 
verted youth.  The  child  is  forced  to  say 
within  himself,  "  How  can  I  offend  against 
the  father  who  daily  wrestles  with  God  in 
my  behalf  ?  How  can  I  be  careless  about  the 
soul,  for  which  he  is  thus  concerned  ?"  And 
often  when  separated  from  the  domestic  cir- 


64  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

cle,  has  the  wanderer  bethought  himself, 
My  father  and  mother  are  now  praying  to 
God  for  their  boy  !  He  is  little  read  in  the 
human  heart  who  fails  to  recognise  here  a 
great  element  of  filial  piety,  or  who  refuses 
to  believe  that  the  tenderness  of  a  child's 
attachment  is  increased  by  the  stated  wor- 
ship of  the  household. 

There  is  a  kindred  influence  upon  frater- 
nal affection.  Praying  together  is  a  certain 
means  of  attachment ;  those  who  pray  for  one 
another  cannot  but  love.  Think  of  it,  and 
confess  how  impossible  it  is  for  sons  and 
daughters,  every  day,  during  all  the  sunny 
years  of  youth,  to  bow  down  side  by  side  in 
common  devotions  and  mutual  intercessions, 
without  feeling  that  their  affection  is  rendered 
closer  and  holier  by  the  very  act.  Brothers 
and  sisters  who  have  thus  been  led  together 
to  the  throne  of  grace  from  infancy,  are  linked 
by  ties  unknown  to  the  rest  of  the  world. 
But  the  topic  merits  a  separate  discussion. 

Delightful  as  is  the  syllable  home,  it  is 
made  tenfold  more  so  by  prayer.  The  an- 
cient lares,  or  gods  of  the  house,  were  cherish- 
ed, and  their  altar  was  the  domestic  hearth. 
They  were  vanity  and  a  lie  :    "  but  our  God 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  65 

is  in  the  heavens."*  The  house  of  our  child- 
hood is  always  lovely,  but  the  presence  of  the 
Almighty  Protector  makes  it  a  sanctuary, 
and  his  altar  causes  home  to  be  doubly  home. 
However  long  we  live,  or  however  far  we 
wander,  it  will  ever  abide  in  memory  as  the 
place  of  prayer,  the  cradle  of  our  childlike 
devotions,  the  circle  which  enclosed  father, 
and  mother,  and  sister,  and  brother,  in  its 
sacred  limit.  Now  that  which  adds  to  the 
charm  and  the  influence  of  home,  affords  a 
mighty  incentive  to  good,  and  a  mighty 
check  to  evil.  To  make  a  child  love  his 
home,  is  to  secure  him  against  a  thousand 
temptations.  Families  who  live  without  God 
forego  all  such  advantages  and  recollec- 
tions. The  domestic  fireside  no  doubt  has  its 
charms,  but  it  is  shorn  of  its  religious  asso- 
ciations ;  it  is  less  revered ;  we  believe  it  is 
less  loved. 

In  families  where  there  is  daily  praise  of 
God,  in  psalms  and  hymns  and  spiritual 
songs,  there  is  an  additional  influence  on  the 
young.  At  no  age  are  we  more  impressed 
by  music,  and  no  music  is  so  impressive  as 
that  which  is  the  vehicle  of  devotion.     The 

*  Psalm  cxv.  3. 


66  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

little  imitative  creatures  begin  to  catch  the 
melodies  long  before  they  can  understand  the 
words.  Without  any  exception  they  are  de- 
lighted with  this  part  of  the  service,  and  their 
proficiency  is  easy  in  proportion.  No  choir 
can  be  compared  with  that  of  a  goodly  house- 
hold, where  old  and  young,  day  after  day, 
and  year  after  year,  lift  up  the  voice  in  har- 
mony. Such  strains  give  a  jocund  opening 
to  the  day,  and  cheer  the  harassed  mind  after 
labour  is  done.  Sacred  song  tranquillizes 
and  softens  the  mind,  makes  an  opening  for 
higher  influences,  and  prepares  voice  and 
heart  for  the  public  praise  of  God.  The 
practice  is  the  more  important,  as  it  is  well 
known  that  in  order  to  attain  its  perfection, 
the  voice  should  be  cultivated  from  an  early 
age.  Nor  should  we  omit  to  mention  the 
store  of  psalms  and  hymns  which  are  thus 
treasured  in  the  memory.  By  this  it  is,  even 
more  than  by  public  worship,  that  the  Scot- 
tish peasantry  to  so  great  an  extent  have  the 
old  version  of  the  Psalms  by  rote,  in  great 
part  or  in  whole.  But  this  is  a  topic  which 
we  reserve  for  another  place. 

In  the  rearing  of  youth,  nothing  can  be 
thought  insignificant  which  goes  to  train  the 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  67 

thoughts,  or  give  strength  and  direction  to 
the  habits.  It  is  by  a  repetition  of  perpetual, 
patient  touches,  small  in  themselves,  that  the 
straggling  branches  of  the  vine  are  led  by 
the  gardener  to  grow  and  spread  aright.  It 
is  by  ten  thousand  inappreciable  dots  and 
scratches,  that  the  plate  of  the  engraver  is 
made  to  represent  the  portrait  or  the  land- 
scape. So  it  is  by  an  ever-renewed  applica- 
tion of  right  principles,  that  parental  care,  in 
the  hand  of  sovereign  grace,  gives  Christian 
habit  to  the  infant  mind.  In  so  precious  a 
work  nothing  is  unimportant :  we  must  give 
heed  to  the  minutest  influences,  as  we  save 
the  filings  of  gold,  and  the  dust  of  diamonds. 
For  this  reason  we  ascribe  to  domestic  wor- 
ship a  large  share  in  creating  useful  hab- 
its in  the  young.  We  scruple  not  to  say 
that  a  child  receives  advantage  by  being  led 
to  do  any  thing,  provided  it  be  innocent,  at 
stated  times,  with  frequent  repetition,  and 
with  proper  care.  The  daily  assembling  of 
a  household.,  at  regular  periods,  for  a  religi- 
ous purpose,  directly  tends  to  promote  good 
habits.  It  is  a  useful  lesson  for  the  speech- 
less babe,  to  acquire  the  patient  stillness  of 
the  hour  of  prayer.     It  is  good  for  a  family 


68  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

to  have  a  religious  motive  to  early  rising-, 
and  timely  attention  to  personal  neatness.  It 
is  something  to  have  punctuality  in  the  ob- 
servance of  two  hours  each  day,  enforced 
from  the  very  dawn  of  life.  Those  who  may 
be  tempted  to  put  this  aside  with  a  smile, 
should  first  institute  a  comparison  in  regard 
to  these  particulars,  between  any  two  fami- 
lies, of  which  one  worships,  and  the  other 
worships  not.  We  are  willing  to  abide  by 
the  result  of  the  examination,  for  we  are  sure 
that  in  the  latter  will  be  found  a  great  loose- 
ness of  domestic  arrangement,  tardy  rising, 
a  slovenly  toilet,  a  long,  irregular,  time- 
wasting  breakfast,  more  conformable  to  the 
modern  fashion  than  to  Christian  usage;  even- 
ings without  an  affectionate  rally  of  the 
house ;  and  late  hours  of  retiring,  or  no  fixed 
hours  at  all. 

Parents  who  may  read  this  book  are  re- 
spectfully invited  to  consider  whether  they 
do  not  owe  it  to  their  children  to  give  them 
the  daily  worship  of  God.  Especially  are 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  church,  whose 
own  youth  was  hallowed  by  this  constant 
observance,  charged  to  recall  their  impres- 
sions of  the  past,  and  to  reckon  up  the  advan- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  69 

tages  which  they  are  denying  to  their  off 
spring. 

Christian  children  must  give  account  at 
the  last  day,  for  the  privilege  of  family-prayer. 
It  becomes  them  to  be  asking  whether  they 
are  making  use  of  the  instrumentality.  Cus- 
tomary means  of  this  kind,  we  know,  are  apt 
to  become  formalities.  When  the  family  is 
gathered,  the  careless  or  drowsy  child  may 
hear  as  though  he  heard  not,  and  kneel  as 
though  he  knelt  not ;  may  attend  to  no  sylla- 
ble of  God's  word,  and  join  in  no  single  peti- 
tion. But  let  him  remember  that  every  in- 
stance of  Family-Worship  affords  a  means  of 
direct  approach  to  the  Most  High,  and  thus 
a  means  of  saving  his  soul.  Blessed  are  those 
children,  who,  early  in  their  youthful  days, 
remember  the  God  of  their  fathers,  and  be- 
gin life  by  choosing  him  as  the  guide  of  their 
youth!  To  such,  every  act  of  worship  is  a 
solemnity  and  a  delight,  gradually  ripening 
the  soul  for  faithful  service  on  earth,  and  for 
the  praises  of  heaven.  Most  earnestly  is  it 
.to  be  desired,  that  those  who  have  been  bap- 
tized, who  have  been  catechized,  who  have 
been,  during  all  their  youth,  embraced  in  the 
circle  of  domestic  prayer,  should  now,  when 

7 


70  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

themselves  placed  at  the  head  of  families, 
carry  forward  the  blessed  institutions  in 
which  they  have  been  reared,  and  convey 
the  words  of  life  to  coming  generations. 
"  We  will  not  hide  them  from  their  chil- 
dren, showing  to  the  generation  to  come  the 
praises  of  the  Lord,  and  his  strength,  and  his 
wonderful  works  that  he  hath  done.* 


CHAPTER    V. 

INFLUENCE    OF    FAMILY-WORSHIP    ON    DOMESTICS. 

The  religion  of  the  family  extends  to  every 
inmate,  and  embraces  not  only  children,  but 
servants.  Just  before  the  ruin  of  Sodom, 
God  said  of  Abraham,  "  I  know  him,  that  he 
will  command  his  children  and  his  household 
after  him."f  On  which  that  most  delightful 
old  commentator,  Matthew  Henry,  remarks : 
"  Abraham  not  only  took  care  of  his  children, 
but  of  his  household;  his  servants  were  cate- 
chized servants.     Masters  of  families  should 

*  Psalm  lxxviii.  4.  t  Gen-  xviii-  19- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  71 

instruct  and  inspect  the  manners  of  all  un- 
der their  roof.  The  poorest  servants  have 
precious  souls  that  must  be  looked  after."  It 
is  for  this  reason  that  we  include  domestics 
in  the  circle  of  family-devotion. 

Few  topics  have  been  more  largely  or  more 
angrily  discussed  in  our  day,  than  the  rela- 
tion of  master  and  servant.  We  have  had 
abundance  of  abstractions,  and  of  unscrip- 
tural  lamentations,  but  so  far  as  we  can  ob- 
serve, no  real  profit  has  accrued  to  the  infe- 
rior persons.  If  the  present  current  of  opinion 
goes  on,  we  shall  soon  arrive  at  the  point  at 
which  there  will  be  no  such  thing  as  a  ser- 
vant. Out  of  a  false  delicacy,  an  irreligious 
spirit  of  levelling,  a  yielding  to  pride,  and  a 
mistaken  view  of  the  character  of  labour, 
even  good  people  have  been  willing  to  banish 
the  very  word  from  their  diction,  corrupting 
at  once  their  language  and  their  morals.  The 
generation  which  is  now  growing  up  among 
us,  is  exceedingly  slow  to  recognise  any  pro- 
per authority  in  the  master,  or  any  obligation 
to  obedience  in  the  servant.  Those,  how- 
ever, for  whom  these  remarks  are  intended, 
have  been  bred  in  a  different  and  more  old- 
fashioned  school.     They  have  learned  that 


72  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

"by  father  and  mother  in  the  fifth  command- 
ment, are  meant  not  only  natural  parents,'' 
but  "  such  as  by  God's  ordinance  are  over 
us  in  place  of  authority,  whether  in  famihj, 
church,  or  commonwealth."  They  have  fur- 
ther learned,  that  "  it  is  required  of  superiors, 
according  to  that  power  they  receive  from 
God,  and  that  relation  wherein  they  stand, 
to  love,  pray  for,  and  bless  their  inferiors ;  to 
instruct,  counsel,  and  admonish  them ;  pro- 
tecting, and  providing  for  them  all  things 
necessary  for  soul  and  body ;  and  by  grave, 
wise,  holy,  and  exemplary  carriage,  to  pro- 
cure glory  to  God,  honour  to  themselves,  and 
so  to  preserve  that  authority  which  God  hath 
put  upon  them." 

To  exclude  servants  from  Family- Worship 
is  a  tyrannical  and  unchristian  act,  which  we 
have  never  known  to  be  directly  attempted. 
But  so  far  as  possible,  the  affairs  of  a  Chris- 
tian household  should  be  so  arranged  that 
every  domestic  may  unite  in  this  service.  In 
some  houses,  it  is  customary  to  make  attend- 
ance on  family-prayer  a  condition  of  ser- 
vice. This  is  often  difficult  in  parts  of  the 
country  where  popish  servants  are  employed. 
Nor  should  we  be  willing  to  press  this  rule 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  73 

too  far,  as  the  instances  are  numerous  and 
increasing,  in  which  the  foreign  domestic, 
though  as  yet  unwilling  to  join  in  Protestant 
prayers,  has  been  willing  to  receive  instruc- 
tion. In  one  case  well  known  to  us,  Romish 
domestics  have  been  attracted  to  the  family- 
prayers,  in  spite  of  confessor  and  penance, 
solely  by  the  charms  of  the  psalmody  ;  and 
in  another,  a  servant-woman,  who  entered  as 
a  superstitious  zealot,  has  been  brought  to  the 
liberty  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  One  thing, 
however,  is  to  be  maintained :  the  Christian 
householder  is  bound  to  use  all  lawful  means 
to  cause  every  servant  in  his  house  to  be  a 
regular  attendant  on  the  daily  worship. 

Every  thing  that  was  said  in  the  foregoing 
chapter  concerning  children,  may  here  be 
repeated,  with  slight  change,  concerning  ser- 
vants. The  latter  have,  however,  some  spe- 
cial and  peculiar  interests  in  this  institu- 
tion. They  are  often  ignorant  and  irreligious. 
They  are  often  unable  to  read  the  Bible. 
Their  necessities  are,  therefore,  greater  than 
those  of  children.  They  have  more  to  learn ; 
and  this  is  the  more  seriously  to  be  regarded 
in  cases  where  they  are  inmates  of  a  religious 
family  for  a  short  time  only.     It  may  be  their 


74  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

only  opportunity  in  life  of  gaining  the  know- 
ledge of  Jesus  Christ.  Again,  the  labours  of 
domestic  service  afford  less  time  for  the  wrord 
of  God  and  prayer,  than  the  usual  occupa- 
tions of  children.  To  many  a  servant  the 
Family- Worship  is  the  only  means  of  grace. 
This,  we  are  persuaded,  is  too  much  disre- 
garded by  us,  in  our  ordinary  mode  of  con- 
ducting the  service. 

To  reside,  even  as  a  servant,  in  a  family 
where  the  worship  of  God  is  duly  observed,  is 
an  unspeakable  privilege.  This  is  one  of  the 
collateral  methods  of  diffusing  Christianity, 
which  is  silent,  but  operative.  If  our  whole 
duty  were  performed  in  this  respect,  no  do- 
mestic would  ever  leave  our  dwelling  with- 
out some  benefit  derived  from  the  daily  ser- 
vice of  God. 

In  a  large  portion  of  America,  a  portion 
also  over  wThich  our  church  is  widely  extend- 
ed, all  labour  is  performed  by  bondmen.  This 
opens  to  us  an  aspect  of  the  subject  too  im- 
portant to  be  overlooked ;  indeed  by  far  the 
most  important  in  this  chapter.  Having  been 
born  among  these  institutions,  having  lived 
among  them,  and  having  spent  a  portion  of 
life  in  labouring  among  slaves,  we  feel  im- 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  75 

pelled  to  utter  our  thoughts  on  the  subject ; 
thoughts  which,  we  are  assured,  will  meet 
with  response  in  the  hearts  of  brethren  at 
the  south.  For  however  the  ignorant  and 
unjust  clamours  of  some  may  reiterate  the 
contrary,  we  speak  what  we  do  know,  and 
testify  what  we  have  seen,  in  asserting  that 
pious  householders  at  the  south  are  accus- 
tomed to  exert  a  direct  religious  influence 
on  their  servants.  The  master  of  numerous 
slaves  has  an  access  to  them,  and  an  influence 
over  them,  in  regard  to  divine  truth,  such  as 
no  other  man  on  earth  has  over  an  equal 
number  of  persons.  That  this  influence  is 
always  exerted  to  the  extent  of  the  obligation, 
we  no  more  assert,  than  we  assert  the  same 
of  teachers,  shipmasters,  and  owners  of  fac- 
tories, in  New  England,  or  in  Europe.  But 
that  the  way  is  open  to  an  extraordinary  ex- 
tent, and  that  the  effort  is  conscientiously 
made  in  a  large  number  of  blessed  instances, 
we  not  only  believe,  but  do  testify. 

In  no  instance  have  we  ever  been  so  much 
impressed  with  the  value  of  Family- Worship 
to  the  servant,  as  when  we  have  seen  a  large 
household  of  negro  slaves,  sometimes  filling 
rooms  and  passages,  gathered  for  this  service, 


76  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

and  filling  the  air  with  their  peculiar  melody. 
On  one  of  these  occasions,  being  struck  with 
the  intelligence,  gravity,  and  decorum  of  the 
servants  thus  assembled,  we  learned,  on  in- 
quiry, that  no  less  than  fifty,  of  that  planta- 
tion alone,  were  communicants  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

No  enlargement  is  necessary,  in  order  to 
show  the  immense  value  of  such  oral  services 
to  those  who  cannot  read.  Hearing,  as  many 
of  them  do,  but  small  portions  of  the  Scrip- 
ture on  the  Sabbath,  they  are  the  more  de- 
pendent upon  what  they  receive  in  the  house. 
It  merits  the  consideration  of  all  benevolent 
householders  in  the  south,  whether  this  is  not 
of  itself  a  strong  argument  for  the  necessity 
of  Family-Worship.  Pious  masters  might 
well  take  counsel,  as  to  the  best  method  and 
order  of  reading,  and  even  explaining,  the 
Scriptures  to  their  servants. 

The  fondness  of  the  black  race  for  music 
is  proverbial.  It  is  rare  to  meet  with  a  negro 
who  does  not  sing ;  and  there  are  many  whose 
organ  is  susceptible  of  extraordinary  training. 
It  is  not  uncommon  to  hear  the  negro,  on 
some  nightly  walk  through  the  forest,  waking 
the  echoes  w7ith  a  sacred  song,  and  perhaps, 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  77 

(odd  as  it  may  seem)  giving  out  the  lines  to 
himself.  We  have  listened  to  a  great  variety 
of  sacred  music,  vocal  and  instrumental, 
Popish  and  Protestant,  in  choirs  and  congre- 
gations, in  concerts  and  oratorios ;  but  if  we 
were  summoned  to  declare  which  of  all  seem- 
ed most  like  the  praise  of  God,  we  should 
reply,  The  united  voices  of  a  thousand  slaves, 
ascending  to  heaven  in  a  volume  of  harmony. 
For  this  reason,  divine  praise  should,  if  pos- 
sible, always  form  a  part  of  domestic  wor- 
ship, where  black  servants  are  present.  No 
better  vehicle  of  truth  to  these  minds  could 
be  sought  than  an  appropriate  hymn,  well 
suited  to  a  pleasing  tune.  The  writer  begs 
the  forbearance  of  the  reader  for  a  seem- 
ing digression,  prompted  by  the  earnestness 
of  his  desires  on  this  topic,  when  he  adds 
another  suggestion.  As  the  southern  ser- 
vants can  seldom  read,  and  therefore  have  no 
use  of  hymn  books,  the  memory  must  be  the 
sole  depository  of  their  sacred  song.  It  is 
known  that  they  largely  frequent  the  assem- 
blies of  illiterate  and  enthusiastic  persons, 
and  catch  up  snatches  of  hymns,  which  are 
full  of  error,  if  not  of  absurd  irreverence. 
Might  not  Christian   householders  show  to 


78  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

their  servants  a  more  excellent  way  ?  and 
might  not  the  daily  worship  be  the  means  of 
doing  so  ?  Twenty  good  hymns,  with  as  many 
simple  melodies,  would  he  a  treasure  to  the 
black  servant.  These  should  be  carefully 
selected,  so  as  to  contain  nothing  beyond 
their  capacity,  and  so  as  to  include  the  chief 
exercises  of  an  evangelical  mind.  They 
should  be  thus  few,  in  order  to  be  often 
repeated,  and  thoroughly  committed  to  the 
memory.  Each  hymn  should  have  its  ap- 
propriate tune.  From  time  to  time,  the 
hymns  should  be  explained,  until  they  should 
be  fully  comprehended  by  every  mind.  Such 
a  method,  unless  we  are  deceived,  would 
draw  to  the  Family- Worship  many  a  servant 
who  now  stands  aloof. 

Providence  has  placed  the  master  of  Afri- 
can servants  in  a  position  where  he  can  reach 
a  great  number  of  immortal  souls ;  more 
accessible,  we  think,  to  religious  impression, 
than  any  persons  in  the  world.  The  first 
great  duty  is  to  give  them  the  gospel,  and  to 
seek  their  salvation.  Towards  this  end  much 
may  be  done  by  the  ordinary  means  of  Family- 
Worship.  But  we  most  respectfully  sug- 
gest the  inquiry,  whether  the  principle  of 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  79 

this  ordinance  does  not  admit  of  an  extension 
to  a  much  wider  circle.  As  the  dependents 
and  labourers  of  a  wealthy  proprietor  are  pro- 
videntially increased  to  an  unusual  extent, 
so,  it  might  seem,  should  his  parental  influ- 
ence, as  a  Christian  householder,  be  expanded 
in  the  same  proportion.  The  carrying  out  of 
this  principle,  in  its  details,  must  be  confided 
to  the  discretion  and  zeal  of  individual  mas- 
ters; but  that  in  some  way  or  other,  the 
opportunity  of  worshipping  God  should  be 
extended  to  the  entire  circle  of  inferiors,  is 
too  clear  to  need  an  argument.  Among  other 
methods,  some  plan  might  be  adopted  by 
which  not  only  house-servants,  but  planta- 
tion-labourers should,  at  least  from  time  to 
time,  be  brought  to  share  in  the  worship  of 
the  family.  And  where  estates  are  large, 
special  provision  might  be  made  for  some 
communication  of  stated  instruction  to  every 
soul  within  their  bounds.  That  something 
of  this  nature  has  already  been  effected,  in  a 
number  of  places,  is  known  to  many  of  our 
readers.  In  the  great  day  of  reckoning,  we 
doubt  not  that  the  silent,  unobtrusive,  self- 
denying  labours  of  Dr.  C.  C.  Jones,  and 
his  faithful  coadjutors,  will  shine  forth  in 


80  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

colours  of  a  brighter  philanthropy,  and  will 
be  acknowledged  as  more  full  of  love  for  the 
slave,  than  all  the  inflammatory  harangues 
of  a  hundred  misguided  and  disorganizing 
zealots. 

Returning  from  a  digression,  which  never- 
theless is  nearly  connected  with  our  topic,  to 
the  direct  influences  of  Family- Worship  on 
the  household,  we  find  new  sources  of  bene- 
fit in  this  regard.  As  a  common  approach  to 
God,  in  whose  august  presence  earthly  dis- 
tinctions are  obliterated,  it  tends  to  make  the 
whole  company  coalesce  into  one  body.  The 
family-state,  as  a  unity  of  organization,  found- 
ed by  God,  as  truly  as  church  or  common- 
wealth, was  more  distinctly  apprehended  by 
our  fathers  than  it  is  by  us.  We  have  lost 
both  truth  and  advantage  by  forsaking  their 
ground.  So  far  as  domestics  are  concerned, 
the  family  has  become  a  scene  of  vicissitude. 
Persons  at  service  wander  from  house  to 
house.  Rarely  do  we  find  among  hired  do- 
mestics, one  who  has  grown  grey  in  the  em- 
ployment of  the  same  family.  In  the  same 
proportion  the  bond  between  the  two  parties 
has  become  less  and  less  powerful  and  affec- 
tionate.    The  domestic  servant  has  come  to 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  8 1 

be  regarded  more  in  the  light  of  a  transient 
labourer,  than  in  times  when  he  was  next  to 
a  child  in  respect  and  attachment.  Hence 
the  obligations  on  either  side  have  been  re- 
laxed, and  among  the  rest  it  has  become  too 
rare  for  the  head  of  a  family  to  feel  any  re- 
sponsibility for  the  intelligence  of  his  ser- 
vants, or  even  for  their  morals,  except  in 
reference  to  his  selfish  interests.  We  should, 
therefore,  welcome  every  means  of  rebuild- 
ing these  stones  which  have  fallen  from  the 
household  wall;  and  as  chief  among  these, 
the  ordinance  of  family-prayer. 

It  must  be  evident  that  where  domestics 
are  brought  in  together  with  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, to  take  an  equal  part  in  the  daily  wor- 
ship of  God,  they  will  necessarily  feel  them- 
selves to  be  more  openly  recognised  as  a  part 
of  the  family.  They  will  acknowledge  the 
common  interest.  They  will  grow  into  sen- 
timents, not  only  of  respect,  but  of  tender- 
ness, for  their  superiors.  The  relation  which 
may  at  times  seem  galling  to  pride,  will  par- 
take of  friendly  and  sacred  regard.  In  a 
word,  the  happiness  of  the  servant  will  be 
promoted.  Thus  the  way  wTill  be  cleared  for 
other  and  higher  impressions.     The  truths  of 

8 


82  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

heavenly  wisdom  w^ill  flow  more  readily  into 
hearts  prepared  by  the  softening  influences 
of  kindly  emotion.  Daily  access  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  on  errands  of  earnest  entreaty,  will 
scarcely  fail  to  issue  in  the  conviction,  con- 
version, and  salvation,  of  a  multitude  of  souls. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

FAMILY-WORSHIP,  AS   A   MEANS    OF    INTELLECTUAL 
IMPROVEMENT. 

Some  there  are  to  whom  it  will  appear  far- 
fetched, to  argue  for  this  observance  on  the 
ground  of  intellectual  improvement.  Such, 
however,  can  have  paid  little  attention  to  one 
of  the  great  effects  of  grace.  The  influence 
of  Family-Worship  on  mental  culture  is  only 
a  part  of  the  general  influence  of  religion  on 
the  mind.  True  piety  improves  the  under- 
standing. The  worship  of  God  is  a  means 
of  disciplining  the  faculties.  The  domestic 
worship  of  God  is  a  means  of  family  cultiva- 
tion, in  respect  to  the  intellectual  powers. 
When  we  consider  that  all  sanctification 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  83 

is  by  means  of  truth,  this  is  no  longer  won- 
derful. "  The  entrance  of  thy  words  giveth 
light :  it  giveth  understanding  unto  the  sim- 
ple."* "  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  begin- 
ning of  wisdom."!  No  man  becomes  a  true 
Christian  without  becoming  more  instructed 
and  more  wise. 

It  has  been  held  by  some,  that  the  depra- 
vity of  man,  by  reason  of  the  fall,  does  not 
extend  to  the  intellectual  powers :  but  this  is 
an  error,  against  which  genuine  reformed 
theology  has  firmly  protested.  The  change 
in  regeneration  is  a  change  of  the  whole  man. 
There  is  no  aspect  under  which  this  renova- 
tion is  more  frequently  set  forth  in  Scripture 
than  that  of  an  illumination  of  the  mind.  J 
Unless  we  err,  this  point  has  been  too  much 
neglected.  •  The  very  acts  and  exercises  of 
a  Christian  life  conduct  directly  to  mental 
improvement,  and  are  in  themselves  an  intel- 
lectual discipline.  And  among  these,  Fam- 
ily-Worship has  a  prominent  share. 

Family-Worship  includes  the  reading  of 
the  Scriptures;  and  this  in  itself  is  one  of  the 

*  Psalm  cxix.  130.  t  Pr°v-  i-  ?• 

X  2  Cor.  iv.  4.  6.  Ephes.  i.  18 ;  v.  14.  Coloss.  i.  9. 
Heb.  x.  32.     1  Pet.  ii.  9.     1  John  v.  20. 


84  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

most  valuable  instruments  of  cultivating  the 
powers.  It  is  a  world  of  knowledge  in  itself. 
The  truths  which  it  presents  are  the  great- 
est and  the  most  awakening  w^hich  can  be 
subjected  to  human  attention.  It  is  the  voice 
of  God.  He  is  Light,  and  in  him  is  no  dark- 
ness at  all ;  the  original,  uncreated,  eternal, 
causative  Light;  the  only  source  of  all  know- 
ledge in  creatures.  He  is  primeval  and  essen- 
tial Truth.  Hence  the  subjects  treated  in  the 
Bible  are  eminently  fitted  to  stimulate  and 
impress  the  soul.  It  treats  of  those  things, 
concerning  many  of  w^hich  we  could  not  even 
frame  an  imagination,  or  venture  a  guess; 
the  things  of  eternity  before  creation,  and  the 
things  of  eternity  after  judgment;  the  fall, 
the  redemption,  and  the  destiny  of  man. 
Surely  we  need  not  prove  to  Christians  that 
the  perusal  of  the  Scriptures  is  good  for  the 
understanding. 

By  means  of  family-reading,  the  Bible  be- 
comes in  a  manner  the  sole  manual  of  the 
house.  The  ancients  used  to  say,  "  Take 
heed  of  a  man  of  one  book;"  meaning  that 
such  a  man,  by  perpetual  repetition  and 
meditation  of  the  same  topics,  and  perpe- 
tual whetting  of  his  mind  on  the  same  argu 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  85 

ments,  must  needs  become  one  whom  for 
acumen,  and  use  of  his  powers,  it  were  dan- 
gerous to  encounter  in  argument.  Family- 
Worship  includes  in  a  sort  the  daily  study  of 
one  volume,  which  thus  becomes  the  domestic 
text-book. 

The  history  of  reformed  Christianity  would 
furnish  abundant  instances  of  the  discipline 
and  information  which  may  be  attained  by 
means  of  the  Bible  alone,  especially  wThere 
proper  pains  are  taken  to  compare  scripture 
with  scripture.  Here  we  gladly  avail  our- 
selves of  the  judgment  of  a  learned  prelate 
of  the  Anglican  church.  "  It  is  incredible," 
says  the  late  Bishop  Horsley,  "to  any  one 
who  has  not  made  the  experiment,  what  a 
proficiency  may  be  made  in  that  knowledge 
which  maketh  wise  unto  salvation,  by  study- 
ing the  Scriptures  in  this  manner,  without 
any  other  commentary,  or  exposition,  than 
what  the  different  parts  of  the  sacred  volume 
mutually  furnish  for  each  other.  Let  the 
most  illiterate  Christian  study  them  in  this 
manner,  and  let  him  never  cease  to  pray  for 
the  illumination  of  that  Spirit  by  which  these 
books  were  dictated,  and  the  whole  compass 
of  abstruse  philosophy,  and  recondite  history, 

8* 


86  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

shall  furnish  no  argument  with  which  the 
perverse  will  of  man  shall  be  able  to  shake 
this  learned  Christian's  faith."* 

There  have  been  Scottish  mechanics,  hus- 
bandmen and  shepherds,  who  have  known 
no  book  but  the  word  of  God,  and  who  have 
nevertheless  become  able  theologians,  and 
instructed  men.  Indeed  it  may  be  considered 
whether  the  characteristic  and  proverbial 
quickness  of  the  Scottish  peasantry  may  not 
in  a  great  measure  be  ascribed  to  this  very 
source.  As  a  triumphant  example  of  the 
formative  influence  of  the  simple  scriptures 
on  even  an  unlettered  mind,  we  need  only 
mention  the  immortal  name  of  John  Bunyan. 

Let  it  not  be  thought,  because  the  Bible 
is  simply  hear d,  by  the  majority  of  a  house- 
hold, that  it  falls  without  effect.  Hearing  is 
study,  and  of  the  most  ancient  kind.  Before 
copies  of  the  word  of  God  were  multiplied, 
as  in  our  happy  day,  it  was  by  the  ear,  and 
not  by  the  eye,  that  its  contents  were  mostly 
received.  When  the  manner  of  reading  is 
good,  it  is  still  the  most  impressive  method, 
for  the  ignorant  and  the  young.  By  such 
means  the  Family- Worship  becomes  a  house- 

*  Horsley's  Nine  Sermons,  p.  224. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  87 

hold  school,  and  the  tuition  goes  on  for  a  life- 
time. All  this  holds  good,  even  when  there 
is  not  a  syllable  of  comment.  But,  where 
there  are  even  moderate  gifts,  there  will  some- 
times be  thrown  in  a  word  of  remark,  the  ex- 
planation of  a  hard  phrase,  the  reference  to  a 
parallel  place,  the  summons  to  special  atten- 
tion, the  seasonable  advice,  or  the  warm  en- 
treaty. Sometimes,  where  time  is  more  at 
command,  parts  of  a  useful  commentary  will 
be  read  in  connexion  with  the  word.  Some- 
times portions  of  evangelical  works  will  be 
added,  and  sometimes  the  catechetical  exer- 
cise, according  to  a  venerable  Presbyterian 
custom,  will  find  its  place  by  the  side  of  the 
domestic  worship  of  the  Lord's  day. 

In  a  word,  we  cannot  think  it  possible  for 
any  family  to  enjoy,  twice  every  day  for  all 
their  lives,  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  Scrip- 
tures read  at  domestic  worship,  without,  by 
that  very  means,  rising  perceptibly  and  great- 
ly in  knowledge  and  intellectual  force. 

The  reading  of  the  Bible,  invaluable  as  we 
own  it  to  be,  is,  however,  but  a  part,  and  not 
the  most  essential  part  of  Family-Worship. 
It  remains,  therefore  to  consider  the  influ- 
ence of  devotion.     Although  the  subject  has 


88  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

not  been  as  frequently  discussed  as  its  im- 
portance deserves,  we  undertake  to  maintain 
that  prayer  itself  is  an  intellectual  discipline. 
No  man  can  pray  habitually  without  thereby 
gaining  control  over  his  thoughts,  and  culti- 
vation of  his  faculties. 

Nothing  is  more  generally  acknowledged 
by  all  who  have  treated  of  the  conduct- of  the 
understanding,  than  that  an  indispensable 
condition  of  all  right  thinking  and  learning, 
is  the  power  of  fixing  the  attention.  In  no- 
thing is  there  a  greater  difference  between 
the  civilized  man  and  the  savage,  between 
the  adult  and  the  infant,  between  the  philo- 
sopher and  the  boor.  There  is  nothing,  there- 
fore, which  is  more  earnestly  sought  in  every 
method  of  judicious  education.  This  habit 
of  mental  concentration  is  the  result  of  innu- 
merable acts,  and  is  secured  by  repeatedly 
summoning  the  mind  to  such  acts.  An  ex- 
ercise which  brings  the  understanding  to 
converse  wTith  great  objects,  in  a  state  of  in- 
terest, under  strong  motives  to  be  attentive, 
and  with  frequent  repetition,  is  directly  pro- 
motive of  this  habit.  Such  an  exercise  is 
prayer. 

If  prayer  were  a  sheer  formality,  like  the 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  89 

recital  of  unintelligible  Aves  and  Credos,  the 
stringing  of  beads  on  a  rosary,  or  the  revolu- 
tion of  the  Tartar's  praying-machine,  it  might 
fail  of  any  such  effect.  But  it  is  an  exercise 
in  which  the  understanding  is  immediately 
and  most  actively  employed.  As  one  of  the 
first  hinderances  to  prayer  is  felt  to  be  the 
wandering  of  the  thoughts,  so  the  very  first 
effort  of  the  mind  which  addresses  itself  to 
devotion,  is  the  calling  in  of  the  thoughts 
and  fixing  of  the  attention. 

Every  act  of  prayer  directs  the  mind  to- 
wards the  greatest  of  all  possible  objects. 
This  is  plainly  a  posture  in  which  the  facul- 
ties cannot  be  dormant.  The  connexion  of 
thought  with  thought  in  prayer  is  a  reason- 
able connexion,  and  so  furnishes  exercise  to 
the  powers.  The  accompanying  play  of 
strong  emotions,  such  as  are  evolved  in  acts 
of  supplication  and  praise,  so  far  from  being 
detrimental,  is  highly  helpful  to  the  intellec- 
tual process  ;  for  never  does  the  mind  make 
truer  progress  than  when  the  moral  powers 
are  in  high  exercise. 

Let  us  compare  two  men  of  equal  capacity, 
and  otherwise  in  like  circumstances.  One 
of  these  has  passed  a  lifetime  without  prayer. 


90  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

The  other  has,  at  stated  hours,  ten  thousand 
times  solemnly  addressed  himself  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God.  Is  it  possible  to  believe  that 
such  a  difference  in  habit  can  be  without  a 
corresponding  difference  in  intellectual  de- 
velopment? Apply  this  to  the  domestic 
ordinance.  From  the  moment  of  budding 
thought,  all  along  the  way  of  years,  until  the 
last  day  of  life,  the  household  have  been  ga- 
thered, morning  and  evening,  for  attendance 
on  the  Scriptures  and  prayer ;  to  contemplate 
the  great  God,  to  meditate  on  the  best  of 
books,  to  mingle  in  the  most  sacred  emotions. 
Such  an  aggregate  of  influence,  even  on  the 
intellect,  can  never  be  estimated  in  the  pre- 
sent world;  but  we  surely  should  violate 
every  principle  of  the  mental  constitution, 
were  we  to  deny  its  greatness.  And  this  is 
an  influence,  diffused  not  merely  among  theo- 
logians and  scholars,  but  over  the  common 
mind  of  a  country.  We  all  know  how  little 
there  is  among  the  mass  of  men,  that  deserves 
the  name  of  thought.  The  minds  of  the  mul- 
titude are  diverted  by  company,  dissipated 
by  frivolous  pursuits,  or  worn  by  daily  labour. 
For  such  it  is  greatly  useful  to  be  called  to  a 
daily  exercise  which  composes  the  feelings, 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  91 

breaks  the  worldly  thread,  opens  connexions 
with  eternity,  and  constrains  to  the  thought 
of  God.  Such  influences  are  ennobling. 
Souls  cannot  yield  themselves  so  unreserved- 
ly to  the  flesh,  nor  sink  so  low  in  the  scale 
of  intelligence  and  morals,  with  these  as  with- 
out them.  It  is  something  gained  to  have, 
twice  a  day,  pauses  for  thought.  Texts  and 
principles  poured  into  the  most  careless,  or 
wre  might  even  say,  the  most  unwilling  mind, 
and  prayers  uttered  even  before  the  unde- 
vout,  will  now  and  then  recur,  as  sugges- 
tions, and  be  owTned  with  saving  effect ;  and 
what  is  this,  but  so  much  additional  thought, 
reflection,  and  wisdom  ? 

If,  as  we  maintain,  Family- Worship  tends 
directly  and  powerfully  to  the  promotion  of 
piety,  we  might  here  rest  our  proof  of  its 
intellectual  benefits.  All  true  piety  is  en- 
larging and  elevating.  It  spreads  its  efficacy 
over  the  whole  soul.  It  renders  its  subject 
necessarily  a  meditative  and  serious  person. 
Evangelical  doctrine,  such  as  runs  through 
all  sound  Family-Worship,  is  connected  with 
chains  of  high  argument,  and  embodies  the 
most  systematic  truth.  No  where  is  this  bet- 
ter exemplified  than  among  our  Calvinistic 


92  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

forefathers.  Beside  the  loom,  or  following 
the  plough,  they  nevertheless  pondered  on, 
those  high  points  which  looser  systems  deem 
too  abstruse  for  man,  but  which  are  revealed 
in  the  Word,  and  are  rendered  matter  of  nou- 
rishment and  exultation  to  many  a  man  who 
earns  his  bread.  We  have  in  memory  a 
Scottish  working-man,  an  humble  dyer  in  a 
factory,  whose  conversation  was  a  feast  of 
intellectual  stores.  He  was  not  only  the  dread 
of  infidel  sciolists,  in  his  own  circle,  but  was 
abundantly  able  to  converse  and  to  argue  on 
even  the  minuter  divisions  of  theological 
science;  and  he  was  well  versed  in  the  annals 
of  the  church.  Such  cases  are  not  rare,  and 
such  men  are  reared  among  the  institutions 
of  family-religion. 

A  clear  addition  to  the  annual  means  of 
grace,  amounting  to  seven  hundred  distinct 
religious  exercises,  is  an  element  which  we 
cannot  exclude  from  just  calculation.  A  town, 
a  province,  a  country,  under  such  influences, 
would  be  "a  field  wrhich  the  Lord  hath 
blessed."  It  would  contain  a  population 
mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  and  trained  to  mas- 
culine thought.  Such  a  laud  we  should  pray 
that  ours  may  be.     Jt  would  then  be  "  the 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  93 

glory  of  all  lands."  These  are  among  the 
reasons  why  we  desire  the  observance  of 
Family-Worship  to  be  universal. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

FAMILY-WORSHIP    PROMOTIVE    OF    DOMESTIC    HAR- 
MONY   AND    LOVE. 

"  Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is 
for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity.  It 
is  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the  head, 
that  ran  down  upon  the  beard,  even  Aaron's 
beard,  that  went  down  to  the  skirts  of  his 
garments.  As  the  dew  of  Hermon,  and  as 
the  dew  that  descended  upon  the  mountains 
of  Zion ;  for  there  the  Lord  commanded  the 
blessing,  even  life  for  evermore."* 

Family  peace  is  a  blessing  which  cannot 
be  overrated.  We  desire  to  show  that  it  is 
directly  promoted  by  Family- Worship. 

The  stated  and  punctual  assembly  of  a 
whole  household  for  the  service  of  God,  has 

*  Psalm  cxxxiii. 
9 


94  FAMILY-WOKSHIP. 

this  tendency,  if  considered  merely  as  a 
means  of  bringing  the  several  members  toge- 
ther. There  are  striking  differences  among 
families  in  regard  to  the  simple  quality  of 
cohesion.  While  some  are  a  bare  collec- 
tion of  so  many  particles,  without  mutual 
attraction,  others  are  consolidated  into  a  unity 
of  love.  Many  scattering  influences  are  at 
work.  Some  of  these  may  be  referred  to 
wrant  of  system  and  regularity ;  some  to  late 
hours;  some  to  peculiarities  of  business;  some 
to  fashion;  and  some-to  the  dissipations  of 
vice.  From  one  or  several  of  these  influences 
we  see  domestic  harmony  impaired.  Parents 
and  children  meet  only  at  their  meals,  and 
not  even  at  all  of  these.  The  tardy  inmates 
of  the  house  descend  in  the  morning  at  any 
hour,  and  at  long  intervals,  and  the  evening 
is  often  despoiled  of  the  charm  of  home.  In 
such  circumstances  we  are  persuaded  the 
links  of  affection  are  tarnished,  if  not  worn 
away.  In  proportion  as  the  subjects  of  mu- 
tual obligation  live  apart,  they  will  cease  to 
care  for  one  another.  No  customs  of  society 
are  laudable  or  safe  which  tend,  in  any  con- 
siderable degree,  to  separate  parents  from  chil- 
dren, and  brothers  from  sisters.     It  is  good 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  95 

to  bring  together  the  coals  on  the  domestic 
hearth.  Hence  we  have  always  looked  with 
unqualified  satisfaction  on  the  New  England 
custom  of  gathering  a]l  the  members  of  a 
family,  however  remote,  under  the  paternal 
roof  on  the  day  of  annual  thanksgiving. 
There  is  a  sacred  virtue  in  even  beholding 
the  face  of  an  aged  father  and  a  gentle  be- 
loved mother.  On  this  very  principle,  the 
president  of  one  of  our  colleges,  justly  cele- 
brated for  his  influence  on  young  men,  was 
accustomed,  when  he  saw  the  first  tokens  of 
aberration  in  a  boy,  to  call  him  to  his  study, 
and  kindly  propose  to  him  a  simple  visit  to 
his  parents.  We  do  not  wonder  that  the 
effect  was  often  magical. 

Family-Worship  assembles  the  household 
twice  every  day,  and  that  in  a  deliberate  and 
solemn  manner.  No  individual  is  missing. 
This  is  the  law  of  the  house  from  childhood 
to  old  age.  The  observance  is  as  stated  as 
the  daily  meals.  Other  employments  and 
engagements  are  made  to  bow  to  this,  until 
it  becomes  the  irreversible  rule  of  the  little 
commonwealth.  They  look  upon  one  an- 
other's faces.  They  exchange  the  saluta- 
tions of  affection.     Now,  if  ever,  kind  words 


96  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

and  gentle  wishes  will  be  breathed;  plans  for 
mutual  benefit  or  entertainment  will  be  laid ; 
and  the  glow  will  be  not  the  less  because  they 
are  met  to  offer  the  sacrifice  of  praise.  Taken 
singly,  such  influences  are  not  to  be  despised, 
but  they  rise  to  inestimable  magnitude,  when 
diffused  through  all  the  days  of  long  years, 
that  is,  over  the  entire  progress  of  family  life. 
By  those  who  have  enjoyed  them  they  can 
never  be  forgotten.  Such  households  stand 
in  open  contrast  to  those  where  parents  and 
children,  in  haste  *  and  disorder,  and  with 
many  interruptions,  snatch  their  daily  bread, 
without  so  much  as  a  word  of  thanks  or 
prayer. 

Some  good  results,  in  respect  of  harmony, 
ensue,  wThen  a  household  statedly  assembles 
for  the  common  pursuit  of  any  lawful  object 
whatever.  Union,  and  the  sentiment  of  union, 
are  promoted  by  joint  participation,  and  the 
effect  is  appreciable  where  the  gathering  is 
frequent  and  stated.  Though  it  were  only 
for  exercise  or  recreation,  for  the  practice  of 
music,  for  an  evening  perusal  of  useful  books, 
still  there  would  be  a  contribution  to  mutual 
acquaintance  and  regard.  But  how  much 
stronger  is  the  operation  of    this   principle 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  97 

when  the  avowed  object  of  thus  meeting  is 
to  seek  the  face  of  God,  and  to  invoke  his 
blessing ! 

There  is  no  way  in  which  we  can  more 
surely  increase  mutual  love  than  by  praying 
for  one  another.  If  you  would  retain  warmth 
of  affection  for  an  absent  friend,  pray  for  him. 
If  you  would  live  in  the  regards  of  another, 
beseech  him  to  pray  for  you.  If  you  would 
conquer  enmity  in  your  own  soul  towards 
one  who  has  wronged  you,  pray  for  him. 
Dissension  or  coldness  cannot  abide  between 
those  who  bear  each  other  to  God's  throne  in 
supplication.  It  is  what  we  meet  to  do  at 
Family- Worship.  Often  has  the  tenderness 
of  a  half-dying  attachment  been  renewed  and 
made  young  again,  when  the  parties  have 
found  themselves  kneeling  before  the  mercy- 
seat.  Every  thing  connected  with  such 
utterance  of  mutual  good-will  in  the  domes- 
tic worship  tends  to  foster  it,  and  thus  the 
daily  prayers  are  as  the  dews  of  Hermon. 

The  devotions  of  the  household  are  com- 
monly conducted  by  the  parent,  and  parental 
affection  often  needs  such  an  outlet.  The 
son  or  the  daughter  might  otherwise  remain 
ignorant  of  the  anxieties  of  the  father.    There 


OS  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

are  yearnings  which  the  parent  cannot  ex- 
press to  man,  not  even  to  a  child,  but  which 
must  be  poured  forth  to  God,  and  which 
have  their  appropriate  channel  in  the  daily 
prayer.  The  hearing  of  such  petitions,  gush- 
ing warm  from  the  heart,  and  the  participa- 
tion of  such  emotions,  cannot  but  sometimes 
reach  the  hitherto  obdurate  mind,  and  tend 
to  a  strong  and  reigning  affection.  Both  pa- 
rent and  child,  if  they  are  ever  touched  with 
genuine  love,  must  experience  it  when  they 
come  together  before  their  God  and  Saviour. 

That  revelation  of  divine  truth  which  is 
perpetually  expressed  or  implied  in  Family- 
Worship,  in  Scripture,  in  psalms,  and  in 
prayers,  enjoins  this  very  peace  and  affection. 
The  New  Testament  presents  it  in  every 
page.  The  word  of  God  and  prayer  are, 
from  day  to  day,  bringing  the  duty  constant- 
ly before  the  conscience.  The  household 
which  is  subjected  to  this  forming  influence, 
may  be  expected,  more  than  others,  to  be  a 
household  of  peace. 

Some  notice  must  here  be  taken  of  a  pain- 
ful but  common  case.  Human  depravity 
sometimes  breaks  forth  in  jars  and  aliena- 
tions and  strifes,  among  members  of  the  same 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  99 

brotherhood,  and,  alas,  even  within  the  sacred 
limits  of  a  Christian  house.  Harsh  tem- 
pers, sour  looks,  moody  silence,  moroseness, 
grudges,  bitter  words,  and  alienations,  mar 
the  beauty  of  the  circle.  Hence  we  find 
slights,  angry  rebukes,  suspicions,  and  re- 
criminations. Happy,  indeed,  is  that  house- 
hold over  which  these  black  clouds  do  not 
sometimes  hover.  But  what  means  shall  we 
seek  to  dispel  them,  more  efficacious  than  a 
common  devotion  ?  That  must  be  an  obsti- 
nate ill-will  which  not  only  lets  the  sun  go 
down  on  its  wrath,  but  carries  it  to  the  altar, 
and  to  the  evening  sacrifice.  It  is  hard  to 
listen  long  to  the  word  of  God  without  hear- 
ing the  rebuke  of  all  such  dispositions.  Per- 
adventure  the  very  portion  read,  may  say  to 
the  unrelenting  one,  "If  thou  bring  thy  gift 
to  the  altar,  and  there  rememberest  that  thy 
brother  hath  aught  against  thee,  leave  there 
thy  gift  before  the  altar,  and  go  thy  way; 
first  be  reconciled  to  thy  brother,  and  then 
come  and  offer  thy  gift."*  At  all  events,  the 
whole  spirit  of  the  exercise  breathes  such  an 
admonition;  and  it  is  most  difficult  to  pray 
with  malice  on  the  heart.  Forgiveness  comes 
often  to  us  while  we  are  upon  our  knees. 

*  Matt.  v.  23. 


100  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Suppose  even,  what  we  are  reluctant  to 
suppose,  that  mutual  reproaches,  perverse 
separation,  and  open  quarrel,  should  enter  a 
religious  family.  To  offenders,  in  such  a 
case,  the  season  of  prayer  must  be  an  hour 
of  keen  rebuke.  Avowedly,  they  are  bowed 
down  to  pray  for  one  another.  The  hypo- 
crisy and  impiety  of  so  doing  out  of  a  mind 
of  hatred,  will  stare  the  sinner  in  the  face, 
and  may  bring  him  to  repentance.  Recon- 
ciliation, begun  in  the  heart,  during  moments 
of  devotion,  may  lead  to  the  restoration  of 
peace. 

Sad  as  is  the  thought,  even  husband  and 
wife  may  be  drawn  asunder,  and  may  give 
place  to  the  devil.  Shyness,  severity,  distrust, 
and  unkindness,  may  spring  up  between 
those  who  have  vowed  to  live  together  as 
heirs  of  the  grace  of  life.  But  it  is  hard  to  be- 
lieve that  such  persons,  if  they  possess  a  spark 
of  grace,  can  come  to  the  posture  and  the 
words  of  prayer,  in  which  they  have  been 
united  so  many  times  before  in  happier  days, 
or  can  feel  themselves  encircled  by  their 
kneeling  little  ones,  without  surrendering  the 
selfish  spite,  and  making  a  faithful  effort  to 
crush  the  head  of  the  viper.     Conjugal  ten- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  101 

derness,  forbearance  and  love,  are  guarded 
by  the  exercises  of  family-devotion. 

Contrast  all  this  with  the  condition  of  a 
domestic  circle  subject  to  the  same  malign 
influences,  but  without  these  checks  and 
this  sacred  balm,  and  you  will  no  longer  mar- 
vel that  where  there  is  no  worship,  there  is 
room  for  discord.  The  stream  of  unkindly 
temper  runs  on.  Brooding  silence  is  the  best 
that  can  be  expected.  The  day  closes  with- 
out reference  to  God.  The  griefs  of  the  day 
are  carried  over  into  the  morrow.  Infant  mis- 
conceptions and  dislikes  have  full  time  to 
grow  to  stubborn  maturity,  and  all  this  for 
want  of  that  religious  influence  which  would 
be  secured  by  the  hour  of  prayer. 

In  speaking  of  Family- Worship  as  a  means 
of  concord,  we  might  dwell  on  its  influence 
upon  absent  members  of  the  household.  As 
children  grow  up,  there  are  few  families 
which  do  not  send  forth  from  their  bosom 
some  to  distant  places.  These  are  not  for- 
gotten at  the  hearth  which  they  have  left. 
Day  by  day,  the  venerable  father,  joined  in 
silent  love  by  the  more  melting  mother,  cries 
to  God  for  him  who  is  afar  upon  the  sea,  or 
in  foreign  lands.     These  are  moments  which 


102  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

bring  the  cherished  object  full  before  the 
mind,  and  make  the  absent  one  present  to 
the  heart.  Not  to  say  that  such  prayers  are 
answered — they  enkindle  and  maintain  the 
fire  of  affection.  Most  unthinking  or  most 
base  must  be  the  son  or  daughter  who  should 
fail  to  prize  these  parental  intercessions,  or 
disregard  the  supplications  of  the  brother  or 
the  sister  left  at  home.  Often,  we  are  sure, 
the  recollection  of  the  domestic  worship 
comes  up  before  the  distant  youth,  on  the 
high  seas,  or  in  remote  wanderings.  Often  is 
the  secret  tear  shed  over  these  privileges  of 
his  childhood.  In  the  perpetual  fire  of  the 
Family- Worship,  he  knows  he  has  a  remem- 
brancer in  his  father's  house. 

"When,  after  years  of  absence,  and  it  may 
be  of  sin,  the  son  revisits  the  home  of  his 
childhood,  and  when,  at  the  close  of  day,  the 
circle  draws  around  the  fireside,  and  that 
worship  is  renewed  which  he  remembers  so 
well — what  a  torrent  of  ancient  reminiscence 
pours  into  the  heart !  Such  associations  have 
their  influence  on  even  hardened  natures, 
and  they  go  to  prove  the  blessedness  of  this 
familiar  institution. ' 

But  after  all  that  we  may  urge,  the  great 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  103 

and  crowning  reason  why  domestic  worship 
promotes  harmony,  is,  that  it  promotes  true 
religion,  and  religion  is  love.  Its  mission  is 
peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men.  Un- 
like the  empirical  schemes  of  Godwin,  St. 
Simon,  Fourier,  and  Owen,  which  tear  the 
household  elements  asunder,  Christianity 
compacts  the  structure,  and  strengthens 
every  wall.  It  adds  a  new  cement,  and 
makes  the  father  more  a  father— the  husband 
more  a  husband — the  son  more  a  son ;  so  that 
there  is  not  a  social  tie  which  does  not  be- 
come more  strong  and  endearing  by  means 
of  grace.  If  even  enemies  are  reduced  to 
amity  by  the  gospel,  how  much  greater  must 
be  its  influence  on  the  ties  of  blood  and  affi- 
nity !  It  consecrates  every  natural  relation, 
and  exalts  human  affections  by  expanding 
them  into  eternity.  Its  daily  lessons,  con- 
stantly recurring  in  Family-Worship,  bear 
directly  on  this  point.  "  Husbands,  love  your 
wives,  even  as  Christ  also  loved  the  Church. 
Let  the  wife  see  that  she  reverence  her  hus- 
band. Fathers,  provoke  not  your  children  to 
wrath.  Children,  obey  your  parents  in  all 
things,  for  this  is  well-pleasing  unto  the  Lord. 
Servants,  be  obedient  to  them  that  are  your 


1 04  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

masters  according  to  the  flesh,  with  fear  and 
trembling,  in  singleness  of  your  heart,  as 
unto  Christ.  And  ye  masters,  do  the  same 
things  unto  them,  forbearing  threatening, 
knowing  that  your  Master  also  is  in  heaven. 
Love  as  brethren,  be  pitiful,  be  courteous. 
Honour  all  men.  Be  not  forgetful  to  enter- 
tain strangers.  Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to 
another,  with  brotherly  love,  in  honour  pre- 
ferring one  another.  Let  all  bitterness,  and 
wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamour,  and  evil- 
speaking,  be  put  away  from  you,  with  all 
malice  :  and  be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  ten- 
der-hearted, forgiving  one  another,  even  as 
God  for  Christ's  sake  hath  forgiven  you." 
Such  are  the  touching  accents  of  the  gospel 
in  general,  and  of  this  institution  in  particu- 
lar, familiarized  to  every  inmate  of  a  Chris- 
tian house,  from  the  earliest  infancy.  And 
what  the  wTord  of  God  enjoins,  the  Spirit  of 
grace  produces  in  the  heart,  where  true  reli- 
gion finds  entrance.  Under  the  daily  influ- 
ence of  such  motives,  which  drop  as  the  rain 
and  distil  as  the  dew,  the  youthful  heart  may 
be  expected,  in  many  cases,  to  receive  the 
noblest  charities  of  a  renewed  nature. 

Amidst  all  the  imperfections  of  the  Chris- 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  105 

tian  state,  there  have  been  thousands  of  fami- 
lies, since  the  founding  of  the  Church,  which 
have  realized  this  ideal ;  and  what  spectacle 
on  earth  is  more  lovely  ?  From  the  very  cra- 
dle, the  infant  lips  are  taught  to  lisp  the  name 
of  God,  and  the  soft  voices  of  childhood  join 
in  the  daily  praise.  Brothers  and  sisters, 
already  brought  by  baptism  within  the  pale 
of  the  visible  church,  grow  up  with  all  the 
additional  reasons  for  mutual  attachment, 
which  spring  from  dedication  to  God.  No 
day  passes  in  which  parents  and  children  do 
not  compass  God's  altars.  When  the  father 
and  mother  begin  to  descend  into  the  autumn 
of  life,  they  behold  their  offspring  prepared 
to  walk  in  their  steps.  There  is  a  church  in 
the  house.  When  death  enters,  it  is  to  make 
but  a  brief  separation  ;  and  eternity  sees  the 
whole  family  in  heaven,  without  exception  or 
omission. 

"  The  happiest  family  will  not  be  always 
so.  The  most  smiling  circle  will  be  in  tears 
some  day.  All  that  I  ask  is,  that  you  would 
secure  for  yourselves  and  your  children,  a 
friend  in  that  blessed  Redeemer,  who  will 
wipe  all  tears  from  your  faces.  Your  fami- 
10 


106  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

lies  may  soon  be  scattered,  and  familiar  voices 
may  cease  to  echo  within  your  walls.  They 
may  go  each  to  his  own,  and  some  of  them 
may  go  far  away.  O  see  to  it,  that  the  God 
of  Bethel  goes  with  them,  that  they  set  up  an 
altar  even  on  a  distant  shore,  and  sing  the 
Lord's  song  in  that  foreign  land.  They  may 
be  taken  from  this  earth  altogether,  and  leave 
you  alone.  O  see  to  it,  that  as  one  after  an- 
other goes,  it  may  be  to  their  Father's  house 
above,  and  to  sing  with  heavenly  voices,  and 
to  a  heavenly  harp,  the  song  which  they  first 
learned  from  you,  and  which  you  often  sang 
together  here — the  song  of  Moses  and  the 
Lamb.  And  if  you  be  taken,  and  some  of 
them  be  left,  see  to  it,  that  you  leave  them 
the  thankful  assurance  that  you  are  gone  to 
their  Father  and  your  Father,  their  God  and 
your  God.  And,  in  the  meanwhile,  let  your 
united  worship  be  so  frequent  and  so  fervent, 
that  when  you  are  taken  from  their  head,  the 
one  whose  sad  office  it  is  to  supply  your 
place,  as  priest  of  that  household,  shall  not 
be  able  to  select  a  chapter  or  a  psalm  with 
which  your  living  image  and  voice  are  not 
associated,  and  in  which  you,  though  dead, 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  107 

are  not  yet  speaking  to  them.    And  thus  my 
heart's  wish  for  you  all  is, 

4  When  soon  or  late  you  reach  that  coast, 

O'er  life's  rough  ocean  driven  ; 
May  you  rejoice,  no  wanderer  lost, 

A  family  in  heaven.'  "* 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    INFLUENCE    OF    FAMILY-WORSHIP    ON    A    HOUSE- 
HOLD   IN    AFFLICTION. 

In  hours  of  trial  the  members  of  a  household 
gather  together,  as  if  by  a  natural  instinct, 
and  the  tendency  is  more  marked  where  the 
Christian  sympathies  are  active.  But  it  is 
an  unsatisfactory  and  cheerless  assembling, 
when  chastisement  falls  on  a  house  where 
there  is  no  religion.  The  countenances,  even 
of  friends,  mutually  reflect  despondency. 
Words  of  comfort  may  be  uttered,  but  they 
are  such  as  cannot  reach  the  depth  of  suffer- 
ing; for  what,  but  the  promise  of  the  gospel, 
can  bind  up  the  broken-hearted  ?  There  is  a 
hollowness  and  conscious  insufficiency  in  the 
language  of  condolence  which  ungodly  men 

*  The  Rev.  James  Hamilton. 


108  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

address  to  one  another  under  misfortune. 
There  is  no  reference  to  God,  there  are  no 
allusions  to  heaven,  nor  applications  by- 
prayer  to  the  great  source  of  comfort. 

In  contrast  with  this,  consider  the  case  of 
a  sorrowing  believer.  The  very  first  impulse, 
wrhen  he  is  smitten,  is  to  go  to  his  Father  in 
heaven,  whom  he  recognises  as  the  Disposer 
of  the  event,  and  whom  he  leans  upon  for 
support.  It  is  the  universal  experience  of 
disciples ;  when  surprised  by  trial  they  flee 
to  the  throne  of  grace,  as  the  affrighted  bird 
to  its  covert  and  nest.  "  Is  any  afflicted,  let 
him  pray"  The  operation  of  this  principle 
is  observed  in  the  family.  A  common  visi- 
tation has  reached  every  member,  but  only 
to  drive  them  more  near  together.  They 
have  learned  to  bear  one  another's  burdens, 
and  to  lean  on  one  another's  Christian  love. 
They  need  no  prompter  to  draw  them  in  con- 
cert to  the  place  of  prayer;  all  hearts  tend  in 
that  very  direction,  and  the  sentiments  of  all 
find  expression  in  the  privilege  of  family- 
prayer. 

Among  God's  people  on  earth,  there  are 
thousands  who  smart  under  the  daily  afflic- 
tion of  poverty.    It  is  still  true  that  God  hath 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  109 

chosen  the  poor  of  this  world  rich  in  faith, 
and  heirs  of  the  kingdom  which  he  hath  pro- 
mised to  them  that  love  him.  Though  we 
have  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  yet  we 
have  often  seen  him  in  such  straits  that  the 
morning  could  give  no  promise  of  the  even- 
ing's bread.  It  is  a  heavy  trial  for  the  father 
to  come  home  to  his  household  at  night,  with 
scarcely  enough  of  earnings  to  keep  them 
from  being  famished,  and  for  him  to  behold 
the  wife  and  little  ones  shivering  for  lack  of 
fuel  and  raiment.  Yet  such  fathers  and  such 
households  there  are,  wThere,  nevertheless, 
this  very  evening,  the  word  of  God  is  read, 
and  the  blessing  which  maketh  rich  is  in- 
voked in  the  never-forgotten  family-prayer. 
And  such  families  are  unspeakably  distin- 
guished from  the  vulgar  poor,  if  it  were  only 
by  this  single  service.  They  have  a  solace 
which  the  world  does  not  understand.  That 
father  and  mother  can  lie  down,  resting  on 
promises  of  relief  which  have  never  been  dis- 
appointed. And  those  children,  from  their 
earliest  years,  are  learning  the  lesson  of  de- 
pendence on  God,  and  offering  the  petition, 
"  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread,"  with  an 
accent  unknown  in  the  houses  of  the  rich. 
10* 


110  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

True  piety  may  be  left  without  worldly 
goods,  but  it  will  not  be  left  without  the 
domestic  worship. 

Sudden  losses  are  accounted  great  trials, 
and  they  sometimes  fall  on  such  as  have 
rolled  in  wealth.  From  the  vicissitudes  of 
trade,  and  the  wildness  of  speculation,  and 
the  prodigality  of  wealth,  and  the  growing 
treachery  of  associates,  it  has  come  to  pass, 
that  we  hear  wdthout  surprise  of  instantane- 
ous ruin  and  bankruptcy.  Knit  together  as 
society  is,  this  may  befall  even  a  righteous 
man;  or  unexpected  poverty  may  come 
in  at  some  other  door.  Riches  have  many 
wings,  with  which  they  fly  away  as  an  eagle 
toward  heaven.  In  such  a  case  it  is  not  for 
one  of  God's  children  to  say,  "  Ye  have  taken 
away  my  gods,  and  what  have  I  more?7'* 
Rather  will  he  call  together  his  household, 
and  humbly  declare,  writh  one  in  worse  con- 
dition, "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath 
taken  away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord."f  A  domestic  usage,  which  makes 
this  not  only  easy,  but  expected,  is  a  means 
of  relief.  Here  the  father  may  pour  out  his 
soul  freely,  and  here  the  children  may  learn 

*  Judges  xviii.  24.  t  Job  i.  21. 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  Ill 

that  their  parent  has  a  treasure  laid  up  where 
thieves  do  not  break  through  nor  steal.  If 
the  family  devotions  have  been  held  precious 
during  the  time  of  prosperity,  they  will  seem 
doubly  precious  now,  and  it  will  be  delight- 
ful to  consider  that  earthly  reverses  cannot 
touch  this  possession.  The  equipage  and 
livery  and  plate  may  vanish ;  the  paintings 
and  gorgeous  furniture  may  fly  under  the 
hammer ;  the  library  may  be  scattered  ;  the 
very  mansion  may  be  forsaken.  Yet,  in  a 
cottage  or  a  garret,  within  bare  cold  walls, 
shunned  by  the  parasites  of  other  days,  the 
Christian  family  may  rejoice  that  the  daily 
worship  of  God  is  still  untouched;  and 
here,  though  with  tearful  eyes,  they  can  still, 
from  the  bottom  of  their  hearts,  give  thanks. 
There  is,  to  my  mind,  something  peculiarly 
sacred  in  the  worship  of  the  house,  perpe- 
tuated, unchanged,  through  every  vicissitude 
of  fortune. 

"I  was  once  told,''  says  Mr.  Hamilton,  "of 
a  cottage  patriarch,  who  was  born  in  those 
days  when  Scotland  had  a  church  in  almost 
every  house.  There  was  one  in  his  father's 
dwelling,  and  when  he  pitched  a  tent  for 
himself,  he  builded  an  altar.     Round  that 


112  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

altar  a  goodly  number  of  olive-plants  grew 
up,  but,  one  by  one,  they  were  either  planted 
out  in  families  of  their  own,  or  God  took 
them,  till  he  and  his  old  partner  found  them- 
selves, just  as  at  their  outset  in  life,  alone. 
But  their  family-worship  continued  as  of  old. 
At  last  his  fellow-traveller  left  him.  Still  he 
carried  on  the  worship  by  himself.  So  sweet 
was  the  memory  of  it  in  his  father's  house, 
and  so  pleasant  had  he  found  it  in  his  own, 
that  he  could  not  give  it  up.  But  as  he  sat 
in  his  silent  habitation,  morning  and  even- 
ing, his  quivering  voice  was  overheard  sing- 
ing the  old  psalm-tune,  reading  aloud  the 
chapter,  and  praying  as  if  others  still  wor- 
shipped by  his  side." 

When  evil  tidings  come  to  the  heathen, 
they  rend  their  garments,  tear  out  their  hair, 
cast  dust  and  ashes  on  their  heads,  and  fill 
the  air  with  lamentation.  Ungodly  persons 
in  Christian  lands,  in  a  like  case,  do  not  in- 
deed give  wTay  to  the  same  outward  demon- 
strations, but  are  not  the  less  affected  within. 
It  is  the  property  of  the  true  Christian,  to 
hear  such  messages  with  calmness  and  re- 
signation. u  He  shall  not  be  afraid  of  evil 
tidings :    his  heart  is  fixed,  trusting  in  the 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  113 

Lord."*  And  when  the  black  seal  is  broken, 
and  the  faces  of  all  who  hover  around  gather 
paleness,  it  is  true  religion  which  lifts  the 
eyes  and  says,  "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done."  Blessed  is  the  privilege,  in  such  an 
hour,  of  meeting  as  a  smitten,  but  unforsaken 
flock,  at  the  feet  of  the  heavenly  Shepherd, 
and  of  pouring  out  the  soul  in  supplication. 
Sometimes  disease  makes  fearful  inroads 
in  the  Christian  house.  There  is  then  a  spe- 
cial message  to  the  throne  of  grace.  Happy 
is  the  case  in  which  we  can  go  to  Christ, 
saying,  "  He  whom  thou  lovest  is  sick."  But 
we  may  bring  all  our  afflicted  ones  to  him, 
as  to  the  great  Physician,  pleading  with  him 
by  his  name,  jEHOVAH-RoPHi.f  The  daily 
visits  of  the  medical  adviser  are  less  indis- 
pensable than  daily  resort  to  the  Most  High. 
It  is  not  safe  to  lie  ill  in  a  prayerless  house ; 
but  it  is  better  to  be  a  Lazarus  in  the  midst 
of  true  prayers,  than  to  be  full  of  health  in  a 
house  which  knows  no  worship.  In  a  faith- 
ful household,  the  case  of  the  languishing 
sufferer  is  never  forgotten  before  God ;  and 
the  prayer  of  faith  does  still  often  heal  the 
sick.     The  very  thought  of  this  is  a  cordial 

*  Psalm  cxii.  7.  f  Exodus  xv.  26. 


1 14  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

to  the  fainting  spirits,  especially  in  those 
cases  where  the  malady  is  lingering,  and 
stretches  its  saddening  influence  through 
many  years.  The  sons  of  gaiety  may  look 
with  indifference  on  the  daily  exercise  of 
devotion;  not  so  the  pining  invalid,  whose 
life  is  a  long  disease ;  who  seldom  ventures 
across  the  threshold,  and  who  counts  the 
hours  until  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  is 
heard  again.  When  disease  takes  a  more 
threatening  form,  and  life  is  in  danger,  we 
have  observed  an  unusual  solemnity  steal 
over  even  the  more  careless  members  of  the 
household,  as  they  obey  the  summons  to 
evening  prayer.  The  feeling  is  natural,  that, 
after  all,  this  is  the  most  rational  instrumen- 
tality: for  God  only  can  help.  The  ordinary 
exercise  is  transformed  into  a  special  inter- 
cession for  one  who  is  on  a  bed  of  peril.  Be- 
fore the  morrow,  that  soul  may  be  in  eternity. 
Can  wre  think,  with  composure,  of  such  dan- 
gers, or  of  the  death  struggle  going  on,  in 
houses  where  not  one  syllable  of  oral  prayer 
is  uttered,  not  one  group  of  kneeling  suppli- 
ants gathered  about  the  death  bed  ?  We  may 
surely  be  forgiven,  if  we  pray,  May  I  die  the 
death  of  the  righteous,  and  may  my  last  end 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  115 

be  among  the  prayers  of  the  righteous.  Yet 
what  numbers  are  even  this  moment  dying, 
without  one  word  of  supplication,  and  with- 
out so  much  as  a  token  of  Christianity  ! 

There  is  a  sentiment  in  every  true  disci- 
ple's breast,  which  makes  him  glory  in  the 
faith  of  the  gospel  pre-eminently  in  a  moment 
of  tribulation.  Now,  he  feels,  is  the  juncture 
in  which  to  show  that  the  confidence  in  God 
is  unshaken.  Hence  the  quiet  and  seemly 
attendance  of  a  Christian  household  on  divine 
offices,  even  amidst  extreme  trials,  is  strongly 
opposed  to  the  heathenish  confusion  of  a  pray- 
erless  family. 

Every  house  must,  sooner  or  later,  become 
a  house  of  mourning.  The  blessedness  of 
worshipping  God  in  our  family  capacity,  is 
never  more  evinced,  than  when  death  has 
struck  his  blow.  Though  we  pray  not  for 
the  dead,  we  feel  within  us  an  impulse  to 
kneel  and  pray  beside  the  dead.  When  the 
corpse  is  still  in  the  house,  Family-Worship 
has  a  singular  awe.  A  link  has  been  broken. 
A  voice  is  missed  from  the  harmony.  A 
shadowy  form,  that  as  long  as  strength  en- 
dured, lingered  about  these  places  of  prayer, 
has  at  length   ceased  to  appear.     "  One  is 


116  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

not."*  Amidst  such  unavoidable  reflections, 
the  common  resort  to  the  throne  of  grace  be- 
comes peculiarly  tender  and  awful.  The  ele- 
vations of  prayer  and  praise  befit  the  soul 
which  has  felt  a  mighty  grief,  and  which 
sickens  at  the  presentation  of  minor  and 
earthly  considerations.  We  have  seen  the 
heart-broken  widow  led  in  to  the  accustomed 
place  of  prayer,  shrinking  to  hear  a  stranger's 
voice  in  the  place  of  his — yet  calmed  and 
buoyed  up  by  the  fellowship  of  devotion.  O 
how  many  could  rise  and  testify,  that  in  sea- 
sons of  deep  affliction  they  have  found  unut- 
terable solace,  not  only  in  prayer  in  general, 
but  in  the  domestic  prayer  in  particular ! 
"Wounded  hearts  need  fellowship,  even  in 
their  devotions,  and  feel  their  griefs  assuaged, 
when  others,  whom  they  love,  gather  around 
them  in  the  use  of  words  which  make  their 
sorrows  the  sorrows  of  all.  Such  devotions 
soften  and  hallow  grief,  and  make  the  sor- 
rows of  a  Christian  house  altogether  different 
from  those  of  the  world.  To  enter  such  a 
circle  is  good,  There  we  are  taught,  that 
"  it  is  better  to  go  to  the  house  of  mourning, 
than  to  go  to  the  house  of  feasting."!    Tears 

*  Gen.  xlii.  13.  t  Eccl.  vii.  2. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  117 

will  no  doubt  gush  freely  and  interrupt  the 
service,  where  sudden  bereavement  has  oc- 
curred, but  the  whole  influence  of  the  devo- 
tion, even  on  the  chief  sufferers,  has  been 
uniformly  observed  to  be  consolatory  in  no 
common  degree.  There  are  other  afflictions, 
however,  besides  the  loss  of  property,  health, 
or  friends ;  sometimes  less  tolerable,  more 
poignant  than  these.  When  such  tempests 
break  over  a  house,  whither  can  they  resort 
but  to  God,  in  prayer  ?  If  they  have  already 
instituted  this  daily  exercise,  they  need  no 
new  arrangements ;  their  access  is  direct  to 
the  heart  of  a  Father.  Let  them,  as  a  family, 
bowing  before  him,  unbosom  themselves  of 
that  burden,  which  perhaps  they  have  no 
freedom  to  tell  to  a  fellow-man.  It  is  good  to 
draw  near  to  God  with  peculiar  sorrows. 

There  are  houses  in  our  world  of  suffering, 
where  the  wonderful  dealing  of  Providence 
presses  with  long-continued  chastisement ; 
sorrows  which  abide  for  years,  and  from 
which  nothing  promises  an  outlet  but  death, 
which  brings  with  it  the  cure  of  all  evils  to 
the  righteous,  and  the  answer  of  all  prayers. 
There  are  thorns  in  the  flesh  which  God  does 
not  see  good  to  extract ;  domestic  crosses, 
11 


118  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

constitutional  infirmities,  vexations  left  like 
the  Canaanites  in  the  land,  incurable  pains 
and  diseases.  In  these  it  is  a  blessed  thino 
to  pray,  and  to  pray  in  fellowship.  To  these 
the  daily  worship  is  a  moaning  and  an  even- 
ing balm,  indispensable  as  the  "necessary 
food."  Remove  this  agency,  and  you  strike 
out  the  light  of  the  dwelling.  Aged  and  soli- 
tary persons,  and  victims  of  mental  depres- 
sion, crave  the  social  flow  of  affection,  which 
is  afforded  by  Family-Worship.  Having 
ceased  to  look  for  the  pity  of  the  world,  they 
need  the  more  those  communications  which 
are  made  in  the  hour  of  prayer,  and  here 
they  sometimes  learn  to  "  glory  in  tribulation 
also."  Forlorn,  indeed,  are  such  sufferers  in 
prayerless  households.  It  is  no  common  trial, 
for  a  solitary  believer  to  spend  a  lifetime  in  a 
family  where  there  is  no  other  voice  to  cry 
to  God.  And  blessed  is  that  institution, 
handed  down  to  us  from  our  forefathers,  by 
means  of  wThich  a  refreshing  stream  is  daily 
conducted  through  the  habitation. 

A  single  mourner  is,  perhaps,  found  in  a 
household :  "  stricken  deer,"  that  left  the 
herd  "long  since,  with  many  an  arrow  deep 
infixed."     Common  sympathy  does  not  reach 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  1 19 

such  a  case ;  but  it  is  reached  by  devotion. 
Secret  balsams  of  Christian  love  often  distil 
on  the  wounded  heart,  in  the  season  of  do- 
mestic worship,  though  not  a  syllable  be 
uttered,  which,  by  rude  allusion,  could  shock 
the  sensitive  mind.  Prayers  offered  in  the 
presence  of  such  a  one  take  a  form  which 
soothes,  instructs,  and  elevates.  There  is 
society  in  worship,  even  for  the  most  secluded 
mourner.  The  daily  sanctuary  of  the  house- 
hold would  be  worth  all  it  can  ever  cost,  if  it 
did  no  more  than  minister  to  this  "mind  dis- 
eased. "  In  a  long  night  of  pilgrimage,  with- 
out the  lights  of  earthly  hope,  prayer  opens 
views  of  the  better  country,  for  we  are  never 
nearer  to  heaven  than  when  we  are  upon  our 
knees. 

But,  reverting  to  those  afflictions  which 
are  felt  by  a  whole  family,  we  may  observe, 
that  they  offer  remarkable  occasions  for  ex- 
periencing the  benefits  of  household  devotion 
The  soul  is  mollified  by  grief;  every  wTord 
spoken  at  such  times  sinks  deeply.  Sup- 
posing the  head  of  the  family  to  be  suitably 
exercised,  his  experience  will  diffuse  itself  to 
the  members.  The  youngest  and  the  most 
worldly  wdll  be  called  to  join  in  lively  ex- 


120  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

pressions,  which  may  awaken  them  to  reflec- 
tion, and  lead  them  to  turn  the  dispensations 
of  Providence  to  spiritual  account.  The  pro- 
found humiliation  of  a  heart-stricken  father, 
his  penitent  confessions  of  sin,  his  unreserved 
submission  to  the  stroke  of  God's  hand,  his 
moving  entreaties  for  deliverance,  comfort, 
and  grace ;  and  his  irrepressible  intercessions 
with  God  for  his  unconverted  children ;  these 
are  appeals  more  likely  to  go  to  the  heart  of 
the  impenitent,  in  a  time  of  sorrow,  than  all 
the  amplifications  of  eloquence.  And  as  afflic- 
tions are  sure  to  be  remembered,  this  means 
will  cause  them  to  be  remembered  as  asso- 
ciated with  the  most  affecting  truths  of  reli- 
gion. 

Let  us  not  forget,  that  God  doth  not  always 
chide,  neither  doth  he  keep  his  anger  for  ever. 
Though  weeping  may  endure  for  a  night, 
joy  cometh  in  the  morning.  Prayers  are  an- 
swered. They  cry  unto  the  Lord  in  their 
trouble,  and  he  delivereth  them  out  of  their 
distresses.  Then  comes  the  time  for  thanks- 
giving ;  to  praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness, 
and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children 
of  men.  A  w7hole  family  engaged  in  render- 
ing thanks  is  a  delightful  spectacle.      The 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  121 

place  to  behold  it,  is  the  chamber  of  family- 
prayer.  The  psalms  and  praises  of  such  a 
service  are  better  than  mountains  of  sacrifice. 
The  house  from  which  they  ascend  is  a 
Bethel.  Where  God's  worship  has  been 
maintained  for  years,  one  may  look  back  upon 
the  successive  seasons  of  deliverance  and  gra- 
titude, and  see  each  one  marked  with  its 
separate  Ebenezer.  Can  religious  profes- 
sors willingly  spend  their  lives  in  the  recep- 
tion of  divine  benefits,  and  yet  withhold  from 
themselves  and  their  children  the  appro- 
priate solemnity  for  such  tribute  of  thanks- 
giving! Shame  on  the  degeneracy  of  our 
day,  which  has  made  household  irreligion  a 
common  thing,  even  within  the  pale  of  the 
visible  Church ! 

We  have  enlarged  upon  the  topic  of  afflic- 
tion, as  connected  with  Family -Worship,  be- 
cause afflictions  are  the  common  lot  of  all, 
and  because  they  remarkably  show  the  value 
of  this  institution.  We  know  no  sight  more 
touching  than  that  of  a  Christian  family, 
under  some  humbling,  piercing  dispensation, 
all  gathered  in  the  accustomed  place  of  prayer, 
like  fearful  birds  overtaken  by  a  storm,  and 
seeking  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  under  whose 
ll* 


1 22  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

wings  they  come  to  trust*  Rising  from 
prayer,  and  separating  for  the  night,  they 
find  their  agitations  calmed  by  the  presence 
of  the  Comforter,  and  can  say  with  hope : 
"O  Lord,  be  gracious  unto  us;  wre  have 
waited  for  thee :  be  thou  their  arm  every 
morning,  our  salvation  also  in  the  time  of 
trouble."*  The  ungodly  are  not  so.  These 
softening  and  consoling  influences  are  un- 
known to  them.  Their  griefs  are  sullen. 
No  fellowship  in  waiting  upon  God  lifts 
them  above  the  cold,  barren  prospect  of  earth- 
ly consolations.  Their  dwellings  are  dark 
and  wintry,  in  respect  to  any  stated  service 
of  God.  And,  alas,  they  are  imitated  by 
many  in  the  Church,  who  endure  the  strokes 
of  chastisement  again  and  again,  and  even 
sustain  the  arrows  of  death,  without  having 
ever  known  what  it  was  to  come  together  as 
a  family,  for  prayer.  Would  it  be  credited 
by  a  Jew,  a  Mohammedan,  or  a  heathen,  that 
men  who  profess  the  religion  of  Jesus,  and 
sit  down  at  his  table,  die,  and  are  carried  out 
to  burial,  from  houses  in  which  their  voices 
have  never  been  heard  in  prayer  ? 

*  Ruth  ii.  12.  t  Isaiah  xxxiii.  2. 


123 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE    INFLUENCE    OF    FAMILY-WORSHIP    ON    VISITERS, 
GUESTS,   AND    NEIGHBOURS. 

As  "none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  man 
dieth  to  himself,"  it  is  right  and  seemly  that 
this  principle  of  devotion  to  the  Lord  should 
be  impressed  on  the  domestic  organization. 
The  Christian  household  is  not  for  itself;  by 
grace  it  may  be  as  a  city  set  on  a  hill. 
Family-Worship  is  a  means  of  carrying  out 
this  influence. 

Good  and  evil  are  constantly  and  rapidly 
propagated  from  house  to  house.  What  we 
denominate  public  opinion  and  public  char- 
acter, are  very  much  dependent  on  this 
agency,  which  is  not  less  certain  than  the 
silent  but  mighty  transmission  of  the  electric 
fluid  in  the  material  world.  The  dialect  of 
towns  and  provinces  is  thus  originated  and 
fixed;  modes  of  dress,  and  furniture,  and  liv- 
ing, are  carried  from  circle  to  circle ;  extra- 
vagance and  vice  circulate  by  the  same 
channels;  as  do  likewise  political  opinions, 
and  even  religious  sentiments.    Such  are  the 


1 24  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

action  and  reaction  between  man  and  man, 
that  we  never  go  into  a  neighbour's  house, 
or  receive  a  neighbour  into  our  own,  without 
giving  or  receiving  some  imperceptible  im- 
pression ;  and  by  the  sum  of  these  are  our 
character  and  manners  formed. 

Families  differ  very  widely  in  respect  to 
their  freedom  of  intercourse.  While  some 
are  shut  up  within  themselves,  others  keep 
open  doors,  and  are  frequented  by  numbers 
of  visiters  and  guests.  When  the  friend 
whom  we  cherish  is  under  our  roof,  he  should 
be  made  to  discern  the  reigning  principle 
of  the  place.  In  a  dwelling  where  there  is 
no  worship  he  may  be  pardoned  if  he  say 
"  Surely  the  fear  of  God  is  not  in  this  place.' '* 
But  in  a  religious  household,  even  the  casual 
visiter  must  sometimes  be  made  sensible, 
that  there  is  a  perpetual  reference  to  another 
world.  Suppose  him  to  be  under  the  Chris- 
tian roof,  at  the  appointed  hour  of  prayer. 
It  is  well  in  every  such  case,  if  the  service  is 
not  omitted  or  postponed.  He  may  be  a 
stranger  to  such  solemnities :  he  may  be  even 
careless  or  profane.  Yet  when  he  sees  the 
whole  family  gathered,  with  stillness  and  de- 

*  Gen.  xx.  11. 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  125 

coram ;  when  he  hears  the  word  of  God  read, 
and  joins  in  the  psalm  of  praise,  and  kneels 
with  the  rest  in  an  act  of  worship,  it  will  not 
be  marvellous  if  he  be  drawn  to  some  new 
and  serious  reflection.  The  impression  may- 
be greater  than  wTe  suppose,  from  the  very 
influence  of  novelty.  These  acts  of  divine 
service  will  have  a  tendency  to  show  him, 
that  here,  at  least,  is  a  circle  in  which  God 
is  continually  recognized.  If  a  householder 
himself,  he  will  necessarily  be  led  to  contrast 
with  this  the'  condition  of  his  own  domestic 
affairs ;  and  if  he  is  a  professing  Christian, 
living  in  neglect  of  this  duty,  he  will  doubt- 
less experience  a  pang  of  conscience.  Ex- 
ample is  powerful :  he  may  see  his  way  more 
clear,  to  make  his  own  habitation  a  house  of 
prayer. 

"  Some  years  ago,"  says  Mr.  Hamilton,  of 
London,  "an  Irish  wanderer,  his  wife,  and 
his  sister,  asked  a  night's  shelter  in  the  cabin 
of  a  pious  schoolmaster.  With  the  character- 
istic hospitality  of  his  nation,  the  schoolmas- 
ter made  them  welcome.  It  wTas  the  hour 
for  evening-worship,  and  when  the  strangers 
were  seated,  he  began  by  reading  slowly  and 
solemnly  the  second  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to 


126  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

the  Ephesians.  The  young  man  sat  aston- 
ished. The  expressions,  'dead  in  trespasses 
and  sins/  '  children  of  wrath,'  '  walking-  after 
the  course  of  this  world,'  wrere  new  to  him. 
He  sought  an  explanation.  He  was  told  that 
this  is  God's  account  of  the  state  of  man  by 
nature.  He  felt  that  it  was  exactly  his  own 
state.  '  In  this  way  I  have  walked  from  my 
childhood.  In  the  service  of  the  God  of  this 
world  we  have  come  to  your  house.'  He  was 
on  the  way  to  a  fair,  where  he  intended  to 
pass  a  quantity  of  counterfeit  money.  But 
God's  word  had  found  him.  out.  He  pro- 
duced his  store  of  coin,  and  begged  his  host 
to  cast  it  into  the  fire,  and  asked  anxiously 
if  he  could  not  obtain  the  word  of  God  for 
himself.  His  request  was  complied  with, 
and  next  morning,  with  the  new  treasure, 
the  party,  who  had  now  no  errand  to  the  fair, 
returned  to  their  own  home.  Perhaps  by 
this  time  the  pious  schoolmaster  has  met  his 
guest  within  the  gates  of  the  city,  outside  of 
which  are  thieves,  and  whatsoever  maketh  a 
lie.  But  I  cannot  enumerate  all  the  conver- 
sions which  have  occurred  at  the  Church  in 
the  house." 

"  A  few  years  ago,"  says  the  same  writer, 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  127 

"  an  English  gentleman  visited  America,  and 
spent  some  days  with  a  pious  friend.  He 
was  a  man  of  talent  and  accomplishments, 
but  an  infidel.  Four  j^ears  afterwards  he 
returned  to  the  same  house,  a  Christian. 
They  wondered  at  the  change,  but  little  sus- 
pected when  and  where  it  had  originated. 
He  told  them  that  when  he  was  present  at 
their  Family-Worship,  on  the  first  evening 
of  his  former  visit,  and  when  after  the  chap- 
ter was  read,  they  all  knelt  down  to  pray, 
the  recollection  of  such  scenes  in  his  father's 
house,  long  years  ago,  rushed  on  his  memory, 
so  that  he  did  not  hear  a  single  word.  But 
the  occurrence  made  him  think,  and  his 
thoughtfulness  ended  in  his  leaving  the  howl- 
ing wilderness  of  infidelity,  and  finding  a 
quiet  rest  in  the  salvation  wrought  out  by 
Jesus  Christ.' ' 

By  this  pleasing  incident  we  are  led  to  ob- 
serve that  the  influence  of  Family-Worship 
is  peculiarly  great  upon  guests  who  abide  for 
some  days  or  weeks  in  a  Christian  house, 
even  if  they  have  been  brought  up  at  home 
without  such  privileges.  All  that  has  just 
been  pointed  out  here  operates  more  freely 
and  for  a  longer  time.     The  beauty  of  holi- 


,  128  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

ness,  and  the  pleasantness  of  the  ways  of 
God,  are  silently  brought  before  their  con- 
templations. We  could  name  instances  in 
which  such  a  sojourn  in  a  pious  family  has 
made  deep  impressions  on  worldly  minds,  in 
favour  of  evangelical  religion.  This  ought 
surely  to  rest  on  the  thoughts  of  Christian 
householders,  in  the  way  of  duty.  "We  are, 
perhaps,  ready  enough  to  make  our  guests 
welcome,  to  provide  for  their  lodging  and 
refreshment,  to  show  them  the  wonders  of 
our  environs,  and  to  invite  friends  for  their 
entertainment;  but  besides  this,  we  owe  a 
duty  to  their  souls.  It  ought  not  for  a  mo- 
ment to  be  thought  possible,  that  a  dear 
friend  or  relative  should  stay  weeks,  or  even 
days,  in  our  house,  without  receiving  some 
spiritual  advantage.  How  often  have  the 
visits  of  careless  young  persons  to  godly  fami- 
lies been  made  instrumental  of  their  salva- 
tion. Among  the  means  tending  in  this  direc- 
tion, we  know  none  more  fruitful  than  that 
which  forms  the  subject  of  this  volume. 

But  we  must  by  no  means  narrow  down 
the  efficacy  of  daily  worship,  to  that  which 
takes  place  within  a  particular  house.  The 
whole  neighbourhood  feels  the  influence.  Let 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  129 

us  not  undervalue  the  power  of  Christianity. 
No  single  believer  can  abide  long  in  a  place 
without  making  it  in  some  degree  better ;  the 
true  leaven  will  work;  the  true  light  will 
shine.  Nor  can  any  consistent  God-fearing 
household  fail  of  diffusing  a  hallowed  force, 
in  every  direction.  Bad  influences  fly  thus, 
why  shall  not  good  ones  ?  It  is  true,  from 
the  depravity  of  our  nature,  men  follow  evil 
rather  than  good  ;  but  it  is  also  true,  blessed 
be  God  !  that  divine  grace  uses  the  very  same 
channels  of  connexion  for  the  conveyance  of 
truth  and  holiness. 

Suppose  only  a  single  pious  family,  ob- 
serving the  worship  of  God,  without  shame 
or  concealment,  in  the  midst  of  a  wicked 
society.  Their  peculiar  ways,  and  this  ser- 
vice in  particular,  will  attract  notice  and 
beget  remark.  The  visiter,  or  the  passer  by, 
will  hear  the  voice  of  praise  or  prayer.  The 
observation  will  be  natural,  That  house  is 
a  house  of  prayer ;  God  is  honoured  in  that 
house.  Neighbours  will  learn  that  here  is 
a  man  who  arranges  all  his  business,  and 
fixes  all  his  hours,  with  reference  to  the  daily 
household  devotion,  which  nothing  is  allowed 
to  interrupt.     There  are  occasions  in  which 

12 


1 30  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

ibis  peculiarity  of  the  dwelling  is  brought 
into  full  light.  In  cases  of  sudden  illness, 
calamity,  or  soul  trouble,  every  one  will  know 
whither  to  go  for  a  praying  man,  to  kneel 
by  the  bed  of  death,  or  to  speak  peace  to  the 
troubled  conscience.  Where  such  house- 
holds are  multiplied  in  any  town  or  neigh- 
bourhood, by  means  of  counsel  and  example, 
there  is  a  mighty  increase  given  to  the  ex- 
pansive Christian  principle,  such  as  often 
changes  the  whole  face  of  society.  How 
earnestly  ought  we  to  pray  that  this  particu- 
lar means  of  social  and  national  improve- 
ment, may  receive  an  immediate  extension, 
throughout  our  beloved  land  ;  and  that  un- 
faithful professors,  living  in  neglect  of  this 
plain  duty,  may  awake  to  repentance  and 
reformation  !  What  a  change  might  we  ex- 
pect soon  to  see  in  regions  where  now  the 
feeble  piety  which  exists  is  like  a  half-expir- 
ing taper,  which  scarcely  reaches  beyond  its 
little  home-circle ! 

We  are  under  the  humbling  impression 
that  this  is  one  of  the  points,  in  regard  to 
which,  with  all  our  boast  of  superior  privi- 
leges, we  have  not  improved  on  the  exam- 
ple of  our   pious   forefathers.     Among   the 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  131 

Presbyterians  of  Scotland,  and  the  English 
Nonconformists  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
there  was  probably  a  far  smaller  proportion 
of  Christian  professors  living  in  prayerless 
houses  than  among  ourselves.  The  perform- 
ance of  this  duty  was  made  matter  of  special 
investigation,  by  pastors  and  elders,  and  even 
by  superior  judicatories  of  the  church.  And 
the  effect  was  a  diffusion  of  piety,  more  un- 
obtrusive perhaps,  but  not  less  rapid,  and 
certainly  not  less  sound,  than  that  which,  in 
our  day,  we  are  fond  of  seeking  by  periodi- 
cal excitements  and  doubtful  measures.  The 
sacred  treasure  of  one  house  became  the  por- 
tion of  many,  and  wThole  communities  caught 
the  fire  which  may  have  been  enkindled  in 
a  corner.  Such  was  the  case  in  the  town  of 
Kidderminster,  which  was  blessed  with  the 
labours  of  that  eminent  servant  of  God, 
Richard  Baxter;  and  his  testimony,  how- 
ever familiar,  is  too  valuable  to  be  omitted  in 
this  place. 

"  On  the  Lord's  day,"  says  Mr.  Baxter, 
"  there  was  no  disorder  to  be  seen  in  the 
streets,  but  you  might  hear  a  hundred  fami- 
lies singing  psalms,  and  repeating  sermons, 
as  you  passed  through  the  streets.     When  I 


1 32  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

came  thither  first,  there  was  about  one  family 
in  a  street  that  worshipped  God  and  called 
on  his  name ;  and  when  I  came  away,  there 
were  some  streets  where  there  was  not  above 
one  family  in  the  side  of  a  street  that  did 
not  so,  and  that  did  not,  by  professing  seri- 
ous godliness,  give  us  some  hopes  of  their 
sincerity;  and  those  families  which  were  the 
wTorst,  being  inns  and  ale-houses,  usually 
some  persons  in  each  did  seem  to  be  reli- 
gious. Some  of  the  poor  men  did  compe- 
tently understand  the  body  of  divinity,  and 
were  able  to  judge  in  difficult  controversies. 
Some  of  them  were  so  able  in  prayer,  that 
very  few  ministers  did  match  them  in  order 
and  fulness  and  apt  expressions,  and  holy 
oratory  with  fervency.  Abundance  of  them 
were  able  to  pray  very  laudably  with  their 
families,  or  with  others.  The  temper  of  their 
minds,  and  the  innocency  of  their  lives,  was 
much  more  laudable  than  their  parts." 

It  may  sometimes  be  the  case,  that  a  man 
of  humble  station,  and  defective  culture  of 
mind,  may  be  called  upon  to  perform  this 
duty  in  the  presence  of  guests,  or  strangers, 
whom  he  regards  as  much  superior  to  him 
self,  and  this  will  doubtless  be  a  trial  to  his 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  133 

faith.  But  let  him  not  shrink  from  the  ser- 
vice of  God.  In  a  majority  of  instances, 
those  very  persons  will  go  away  with  a 
higher  estimate  of  his  character,  for  this  very 
act  of  duty.  Each  of  us  should  remember 
the  words  of  David,  when  he  said,  "  I  will 
speak  of  thy  testimonies  also  before  kings, 
and  will  not  be  ashamed."*  When  George 
the  Fourth  was  in  Ireland,  as  we  find  record- 
ed by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  he  told  Lord 
Roden,  that,  on  a  particular  morning,  he 
wrould  breakfast  with  him.  He  accordingly 
came,  bringing  with  him  two  or  three  of  the 
nobility,  and  happened  to  arrive  just  as  his 
lordship  and  family  were  assembled  for  do- 
mestic worship.  Lord  Roden,  being  inform- 
ed that  his  royal  guest  had  arrived,  went  to 
the  door,  and  with  every  token  of  respect, 
conducted  him  into  the  house.  Then,  turn- 
ing to  the  king,  he  said,  "  Your  majesty  will 
not  doubt  that  I  feel  highly  honoured  by  this 
visit,  but  there  is  a  duty  which  I  have  not 
yet  discharged  this  morning,  which  I  owe  to 
the  King  of  kings — that  of  performing  do- 
mestic worship;  and  your  majesty  will  be 
kind   enough  to   excuse   me  while  I  retire 

*  Psalm  cxix.  46. 
12* 


134  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

with  my  household,  and  attend  to  it."  " Cer- 
tainly," replied  the  king,  "  but  I  am  going 
with  you;"  and  he  immediately  rose  and  fol- 
lowed him  into  the  hall,  where  the  family 
were  assembled,  and  taking  his  seat  in  an 
old  arm-chair,  remained  during  the  family 
devotion. 

In  reading  accounts  of  the  persecuted  Non- 
conformists, it  is  remarkable  how  often  we 
find  that  they  were  arrested  by  pursuivants 
and  other  officers,  at  the  time  of  Family- 
Worship  :  this  was  an  hour  when  they  were 
sure  to  be  taken  together.  Besides,  at  a  time 
when  the  public  gifts  of  Christ's  ministers 
were  restrained  by  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  it 
was  not  unusual  for  neighbours  to  come  in 
at  the  season  of  domestic  prayer,  and  thus 
the  household  assembly  would  often  become 
an  unlawful  conventicle.  Even  in  our  own 
day,  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  other  pious 
persons,  have  opened  their  doors  to  neigh- 
bours who  thirsted  for  truth  and  devotion; 
and  in  this  way  the  religion  of  the  family 
may  extend  itself  with  blessings  to  the  vici- 
nity. The  household-prayer-meeting  cannot 
have  a  more  auspicious  origin.  0  when  shall 
we  behold  the  day,  when  every  professing 


FAMILY-WORSHIF.  135 

Christian  in  our  Church  shall  be  duly  awake 
to  the  power  of  the  instrumentality  which  is 
lodged  in  his  hands ! 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE     INFLUENCE    OP    FAMILY-WORSHIP    IN    PERPE- 
TUATING   SOUND    DOCTRINE. 

Those  for  whom  these  gages  are  chiefly  in 
tended  are  in  nothing  more  fully  agreed 
than  in  this,  that  every  portion  of  divine  truth 
is  precious,  and  that  every  deviation,  how- 
ever small,  from  the  faith  once  delivered  to 
the  saints,  is  most  earnestly  to  be  deprecated. 
Hence  unusual  care  was  taken  by  our  pious 
forefathers,  in  so  framing  compendious  forms 
of  doctrine,  and  so  inculcating  them  upon  the 
infant  mind,  and  so  exacting  adherence  to 
them  from  church-officers,  as  might  best  pre- 
clude departures  from  the  original,  covenant- 
ed, testimony.  This  has  not  been  unobserved 
by  our  adversaries,  and  we  are  familiar,  as  a 
church,  with  the  charge  of  being  stiff,  oppo- 


136  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

sed  to  innovations,  and  tenacious  of  the  tra- 
ditions of  the  elders. 

Though  no  human  guards  can  maintain 
sound  doctrine,  we  must,  nevertheless,  avail 
ourselves  of  every  lawful  means.  There  is  a 
constant  tendency  to  deflect  from  the  line  of 
true  direction.  It  arises  from  the  depraved 
nature,  and  has  manifested  itself  in  every 
successive  age,  from  that  of  the  Apostles 
downwards.  Hence  the  necessity  for  God's 
frequent  and  gracious  interposition,  in  the 
way  of  reformation  and  revival.  Thus  the 
great  work  which  was  wrought  by  the  in- 
strumentality of  Luther,  was  a  clearing  away 
of  wood,  hay,  and  stubble,  errors  and  abuses 
wrhich  had  been  built  on  the  primitive  foun- 
dation. The  early  Lutheran  church  was, 
comparatively,  pure.  But  even  before  the 
death  of  that  mighty  man  of  God,  tares  be- 
gan to  be  visible  among  the  wheat,  and  those 
who  succeeded  him  allowed  serious  errors  to 
creep  in,  especially  in  regard  to  the  decrees 
of  God.  In  the  eighteenth  century  this  de- 
reliction of  the  old  faith  became  more  and 
more  striking,  until,  in  the  present  day, 
not  only  Arminianism  and  Pelagianism,  but 
Arianism,    Sabellianism,    Socinianism,   and 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  137 

that  form  of  Atheism  which  is  called  Pan- 
theism,* are  known  to  prevail  among  preach- 
ers and  professors.  And  though  we  rejoice 
in  manifest  tokens  that  God  is  arising  to 
have  mercy  on  that  land,  we  have  still  to 
lament  the  wide  departures  of  multitudes 
from  the  truth.  In  Geneva,  the  very  place 
of  Calvin's  teaching,  and  of  his  death,  the 
growth  of  heresy  has  been  so  rapid,  that  un- 
til the  late  gracious  awakenings  which  have 
raised  up  witnesses  for  the  doctrines  of  the 
gospel,  the  whole  body  of  the  ministry  had 
gone  astray.  The  case  of  Boston  and  of  Har- 
vard College  is  well  known  to  all  our  readers. 
In  England,  a  large  number  of  the  churches 
called  Presbyterian  have  become  Unitarian. 
The  piety  of  ancestors  conveys  no  hereditary 
blessing  to  their  children.  Nor  do  we  be- 
lieve it  to  be  the  purpose  of  God  to  connect 
perpetuity  of  faith  with  any  form  of  exter- 
nal service,  however  excellent.  Yet  we  are 
deeply  persuaded,  that  among  the  means 
which  he  is  pleased  to  use  for  this  end,  one 
of  the  most  prominent  is  Family-Worship. 
If  any  thing  has  been  attained  by  our  inves- 
tigations thus  far,  it  has  been  shown,  that 
Family- Worship  is  promotive  of  piety.     It 


138  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

is  in  this  very  way  thai  it  is  promotive  of 
soundness  in  the  faith.  Truth  and  holiness 
act  and  react  on  one  another.  The  first  in- 
strumentality is  doubtless  that  of  the  truth, 
by  which,  in  the  hand  of  the  Spirit,  the  work 
of  sanctification  is  effected.  But  not  less  un- 
deniable is  that  further  influence,  by  which 
the  graces  of  the  soul  foster  the  doctrines  of 
the  wrord.  All  defection  from  the  faith  be- 
gins in  decay  of  piety.  Sound  doctrine  is  a 
plant  that  will  not  flourish  in  a  soil  which 
has  lost  the  warmth  of  gracious  affection. 
There  may  be  scriptural  creeds,  in  the  very 
words  of  the  venerable  reformers ;  such  are 
the  Confessions  of  Germany,  Holland,  and 
the  Swiss  churches;  but  the  body  of  the 
people,  and  especially  the  clergy,  will  go  off 
into  the  most  destructive  errors.  There  was 
a  period  of  "  dead  orthodoxy,"  as  it  was  called 
in  Germany,  which  preceded  the  grand  apos- 
tasy. For  a  time  there  was  fiery  conten- 
tion for  the  symbols,  resulting  in  the  unre- 
lenting persecution  of  such  men  as  Spener, 
Francke,  and  Canstein  ;  but  shortly  the  door 
was  opened  for  the  irruption  of  a  rational- 
istic deism.  Decay  of  vital  godliness  leads 
rapidly  to  heterodox  teaching.    Times  of  out- 


Family-worship.  139 

ward  prosperity  are  seized  by  the  adversary 
for  carrying  on  this  disastrous  work.  "Wealth 
flows  into  the  church,  and  Christian  profes- 
sors, forgetting  their  vocation  as  a  "  peculiar 
people,"  emulate  the  world,  in  their  expen- 
diture, their  equipage,  and  their  entertain- 
ments. The  question  which  is  common 
among  us,  as  to  the  lawfulness  of  certain 
frivolous  amusements,  is  a  question  which 
could  not  be  so  much  as  agitated  in  a  flou- 
rishing and  spiritual  church.  No  man  can 
think  of  it  as  mooted  among  the  Apostles 
or  early  martyrs,  among  the  reformers  or 
covenanters.  But  at  a  certain  stage  in  the 
declension,  we  find  members  of  the  church 
opening  their  houses  for  the  midnight  dance ; 
then  going  freely  to  the  theatre,  and  to  games 
of  hazard ;  and  finally,  making  shipwreck  of 
the  faith.  As  piety  decays,  there  are  great 
tenderness  for  error,  and  great  latitude  in  the 
exposition  of  doctrine.  A  spurious  charity 
forbids  every  word  of  harshness  towards  even 
gross  error.  Indifferentism  is  the  mother  of 
heresy ;  as  we  may  read  in  the  annals  of 
Wittenberg,  Geneva,  and  Cambridge ;  and 
both  have  their  descent  from  worldliness  in 
the  church.     Whatever,  therefore,  promotes 


140  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

piety,  in  the  same  degree  promotes  the  belief 
of  truth. 

Family- Worship  is  one  of  those  obser- 
vances which  it  is  difficult  to  maintain  for 
any  length  of  time,  without  at  least  some 
sentiment  of  reverence  for  evangelical  truth 
More  public  and  ceremonious  ordinances 
may  continue  to  be  rendered  necessary  and 
decorous  by  the  customs  of  society ;  but  the 
prayer  of  the  household  is  apt  to  fall  into 
desuetude,  when  the  spirit  in  which  it  origi- 
nated has  altogether  fled. 

It  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  there  is 
something  in  the  very  temper  engendered  by 
Family-Worship,  which  favours  persistency 
in  the  faith.  It  is  a  temper  of  mingled  love 
and  veneration.  We  entertain  no  respect  for 
that  youthful  independence  which  exhibits 
itself  in  the  division  of  Christian  households, 
and  in  the  going  off  of  sons  and  daughters  to 
this  or  that  religious  community,  while,  per- 
haps, the  aged  pair  are  left  to  totter  on,  un- 
supported, to  the  ancient  church.  Our  esti- 
mate of  a  young  man  does  not  rise,  when 
he  takes  a  pride  in  showing  that  he  does 
not  care  what  may  have  been  the  opinion 
of  his  father.      Such  is  not  the  disposition 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  141 

which  is  nurtured  by  the  daily  worship  of 
a  godly  house.  The  body  of  associations, 
which  is  formed  by  repeatedly  engaging,  for 
long  years,  in  acts  of  common  devotion,  with 
honoured  parents,  is  very  strong  and  lasting, 
and  manifestly  leads,  unless  there  are  power- 
ful and  conscientious  reasons  on  the  other 
part,  to  the  maintenance  of  the  tenets  which 
those  parents,  loved.  The  recollection  of  a 
departed  father  or  mother,  as  employed  in 
the  patriarchal  conduct  of  domestic  worship, 
has  often,  we  doubt  not,  been  an  operative 
bond  to  restrain  the  wayward  youth  from 
false  teachings.  And  though  some  may  be 
disposed,  without  ceremony,  to  tear  asunder, 
and  cast  away,  such  cords,  as  hostile  to  inde- 
pendence of  thought,  we  have  always  ob- 
served them  to  be  strongest  in  the  most  in- 
genuous and  noble  natures.  Family  religion 
is  therefore  eminently  conservative,  and  stands 
among  the  barriers  on  which  wTe  most  rely" 
against  an  inundation  of  errors. 

But  there  is  something  more  than  an  ap- 
peal to  blind  affection,  in  the  powrer  of  do- 
mestic piety  to  perpetuate  sound  doctrine. 
Family-Worship,  from  its  very  nature,  keeps 
the  mind  attentive  to  truth,  and  familiar  with 

13 


142  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

its  smallest  ramifications.  The  way  in  which 
great  truths  fall  into  discredit,  be  it  observed, 
is  not  by  being  refuted,  but  by  being  kept 
out  of  view.  Hence  you  may  hear  even  a 
whole  series  of  Socinian  discourses,  from  a 
smooth,  wily  teacher,  without  a  single  word 
against  the  Trinity,  or  the  way  of  salvation. 
All  is  negative  ;  but  the  result,  as  in  the 
churches  of  Boston,  is  positive  and  ruinous 
heresy.  Who  can  fail  to  perceive  the  advan- 
tage of  a  daily  exercise,  which  holds  before 
the  minds  of  youth,  in  a  natural  and  unob- 
trusive, yet  satisfactory  manner,  the  leading 
doctrines  of  religion  ? 

Where  the  Scriptures  are  fully  and  stated- 
ly read  in  a  household  day  by  day,  there  is 
the  greatest  possible  safeguard  against  error. 
We  desire  no  other  orthodoxy  than  that 
wrhich  is  contained  in  this  Rule  of  Faith. 
We  leave  it  to  Rome,  to  be  afraid  of  the 
"  volume.  Our  venerated  formulas  of  faith 
wTere  drawn  up  by  men,  wrho,  though  for  the 
most  part  educated  under  other  influences, 
derived  their  tenets  from  the  naked  word. 
By  this  we  are  ready  to  abide  ;  and  we  main- 
tain with  earnestness,  that  the  best  of  all 
methods  for  preventing  latitudinarian  declen- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  .  143 

sion,  is  a  perpetual  inculcation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, such  as  is  continually  taking  place  in 
Family- Worship.  Though  there  may  be 
some  marked  exceptions  in  times  of  contro- 
versy, and  among  disputants,  it  is  a  general 
truth,  that  errorists  are  seldom  great  textua- 
ries.  Heterodoxy  becomes  weary  of  a  record 
which  must  be  garbled  and  tortured  before 
it  can  speak  the  new  language;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  we  venture  the  assertion, 
that  no  race  of  men  ever  existed,  to  whom 
the  very  words  of  Scripture  have  been  so 
familiar  as  those  who,  among  our  ancestors, 
have  professed  the  strictest  doctrines  of  the 
Reformation.  A  Christian  family  is  brought 
daily  to  the  fountain  of  all  truth.  Prayer  it- 
self inculcates  truth.  All  acceptable  prayer 
is  fouwided  on  distinct  views  of  doctrine.  The 
posture  of  the  soul  in  prayer,  moreover,  is 
favourable  to  the  reception  of  those  very  doc- 
trines which  are  commonly  the  first  to  be 
impugned.  Hence  it  is  a  trite  and  true  say- 
ing, that  errorists  are  more  sound  in  their 
prayers  than  in  their  preaching.  This  is  na- 
tural. One  of  the  most  common  deviations 
into  error  regards  human  ability  to  keep 
God's  law\     But  he  who  is  upon  his  knees 


144  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

will  falter  before  he  can  address  the  Almighty 
with  any  boast  of  such  ability.  Many,  we 
are  sure,  have  bewailed  their  original  de- 
pravity, and  confessed  their  natural  corrup- 
tion, in  prayer,  who  have  denied  it  in  books 
and  sermons;  and  many,  we  would  fain 
believe,  have  pleaded  the  righteousness  of 
Christ,  imputed  to  the  believing  soul,  as 
their  only  meritorious  ground  of  justification, 
who  have  stoutly  denied  the  possibility  of 
such  an  imputation.  These  remarks  are 
made  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that  prayer 
itself  is  a  vehicle  for  the  conveyance  of  sound 
doctrine,  and  that  he  who,  in  a  Christian 
house,  listens  from  year  to  year,  to  the  voice 
of  humble,  ardent  supplication,  especially 
from  parental  lips,  and  who,  by  the  very  na- 
ture of  the  exercise,  is  called  to  mafe  the 
sentiments  his  own,  is  already  in  a  school  of 
theology,  whose  instructions  tend  to  main- 
tain his  adherence  to  the  faith  of  his  church. 
In  old  Presbyterian  families,  it  has  been  a 
usage  to  connect  the  catechetical  instruction 
of  children  and  servants  wTith  the  domestic 
worship  of  the  Lord's-day  evening.  It  is  a 
beautiful  and  blessed  remnant  of  Reforma- 
tion-customs, and  we  have  gained  nothing 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  1 45 

by  allowing  it,  in  any  degree,  to  pass  away. 
There  is  a  propriety  in  having  at  least  one 
hour  of  the  week  in  which  the  Christian  pa- 
rent may  take  the  place  of  a  solemn  instruc- 
ter  in  divine  things,  and  there  is  seemliness 
in  connecting  these  lessons  with  the  season 
of  devotion.  There  have  never  been  better 
theologians,  nor  have  there  been  any  more 
disposed  to  abide  by  what  they  had  learned, 
than  those  catechumens  of  the  Scottish  Sab- 
bath evening.  Professors,  and  even  minis- 
ters, bearing  the  Presbyterian  name,  have 
been  known,  not  merely  to  disuse  our  vene- 
rable catechism,  but  to  sneer  at  it.  Such  are 
the  families,  the  sons  of  which  we  shall  see, 
without  surprise,  flying  to  other  commu- 
nions, and  looking  down  with  contempt  on 
the  faith  of  their  fathers. 

In  our  first  chapter,  we  found  occasion  to 
lament  the  decay  of  Family- Worship  in  the 
original  seats  of  the  Reformation,  and  we 
have  now  observed  the  decay  of  sound  doc- 
trine in  the  same  countries.  The  former 
neglect  may  be  fairly  considered  as  one  of 
the  causes  which  have  wrought  the  present 
evils  in  the  Protestant  churches' of  the  conti- 
nent.    It  is  remarkable,  that  where  Family- 

13* 


146  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Worship,  and  the  due  observance  of  the  Sab- 
bath, have  fallen  into  disuse,  error  and  world- 
liness  prevail :  and  it  is  equally  remarkable, 
that  one  of  the  prominent  symptoms  of  reco- 
very, wherever  the  gospel  resumes  its  power, 
is  a  return  to  these  ordinances.  For  we 
would  not  be  understood  as  charging  upon 
the  whole  body  of  believers  on  the  European 
continent,  a  disregard  of  household  devotion. 
In  cases  where  men  have  been  brought  to 
the  true  light,  from  rationalism  and  neology, 
they  have  exhibited  the  family-likeness  which 
prevails  in  all  "the  household  of  faith."  We 
have  been  struck  with  this  in  the  biography 
of  Sybel,  a  lovely  German  preacher,  who  was 
signally  blessed  in  the  training  of  youth,  and 
whose  domestic  life  is  worthy  of  universal 
imitation. 

"Sybel's domestic  life,"  saysafriend,  "was 
very  orderly  and  methodical.  He  arose 
very  early,  between  three  and  four  o'clock, 
awakened  his  scholars,  and,  in  the  same 
room  with  them,  worked  hard  till  about 
seven.  Then  he  called  the  whole  family  to- 
gether, and  .they  sung,  with  the  accompani- 
ment of  a  piano-forte,  a  few  verses  from  the 
hymn-book.     Sybel  read  a  short  portion  of 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  147 

Scripture,  making  a  brief  application  to  our 
necessities,  always  in  a  very  devout  and 
hearty  manner,  yet  very  simple,  so  that  even 
children  and  servants  could  understand.  He 
then  prayed,  making  a  similar  reference  to 
what  was  read,  and  to  domestic  circum- 
stances, and  closed  with  a  short  singing. 
Then  followed  breakfast,  which  we  took  in 
common,  after,  which  he  went  with  the  boys 
to  school,  where  he  remained  till  twelve. 
At  noon  he  offered  a  short  extemporaneous 
prayer.  In  the  afternoon,  the  time  was  in 
like  manner  devoted  to  his  calling.  On  holi- 
days, there  wTas  a  longer  walk  than  usual. 
He  was  fond  of  taking  some  of  the  boys  with 
him  on  these  occasions,  and  had  a  faculty  of 
instructing  them  by  means  of  plays,  songs, 
and  conversation.  The  day  was  closed  with 
divine  service,  like  that  of  the  morning."* 

Now  that  which  affects  us  in  the  history 
of  this  blessed  young  man,  is  the  fact,  that 
his  attachment  to  these  pious  observances  of 
the  household,  advanced  at  equal  pace  with 
his  progress  in  evangelical  truth. 

*  "Arnold    August     Sybel:     nach    seinem     Leben    und 
Wirken.     Von  Dr.  F.  Liebetrut.     Berlin,  1841." 


(0HI7BEEIT7) 


i 


148 
CHAPTER   XL 

INFLUENCE    OF    FAMILY-WORSHIP    ON    THE    CHURCH. 

In  a  certain  sense,  all  the  advantages  of 
Family-Worship  which  are  indicated  in  this 
volume,  may  be  said  to  redound  to  the  good 
of  the  Church;  but  this  is  true  also  of  influ- 
ences wThich  are  more  special  and  immediate. 
"Whatever  may  be  the  reflex  and  inciden- 
tal consequences  of  prayer,  these  are  second 
to  its  grand  consequence,  to  wit,  its  answer 
in  heaven.  "  For  every  one  that  asketh,  re- 
ceiveth ;  and  he  that  seeketh,  findeth ;  and 
to  him  that  knocketh,  it  shall  be  opened."* 
The  primary  advantage  of  family-prayer  to 
the  church,  is  that  it  is  answered.  It  is  no 
small  thing  for  any  congregation  to  have 
daily  cries  for  God's  blessing  on  it  ascending 
from  a  hundred  firesides.  What  a  spring  of 
refreshment  to  a  pastor !  The  family-devo- 
tions of  praying  Kidderminster,  no  doubt, 
made  Baxter  a  better  minister,  and  a  happier 
man ;  and  it  is  possible  that  we  are  reaping 
the  fruits  of  them,  in  his  "  Saints'  Rest,"  and 

*  Matt.  vi.  8. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  149 

"  Dying  Thoughts."  We  have  all  heard  of 
the  preacher  who  told  his  flock  that  he 
had  "lost  his  prayer-book,"  meaning  their 
prayers  ;  as  also*  that  good  quaint  saying  of 
the  last  age,  "  A  praying  people  makes  a 
preaching  minister. "  Such  aid  has  been 
well  compared  to  that  of  Aaron  and  Hur.* 
Faithful  and  affectionate  Christians  never 
fail  to  remember  their  spiritual  guide  in  their 
household  supplications.  Though  we  can- 
not trace  the  connexion,  such  prayers  are 
often  answered  in  the  house  of  God.  Amidst 
the  peculiar  trials  and  discouragements  of  a 
laborious  pastor,  it  is  one  of  his  chief  restora- 
tives to  know  that  he  is  thought  of  by  the 
family  groups  of  worship  in  every  part  of  his 
parish.  This  stimulates  him  to  give  all  pos- 
sible diffusion  to  the  observance  ;  and  as  his 
praying  households  increase,  the  strength  of 
his  arm  is  increased  of  God.  Every  consi- 
derate minister  will  rejoice  in  a  stated  ser- 
vice of  so  much  simplicity,  and  susceptible 
of  so  easy  enlargement,  for  keeping  him  and 
his  wants,  and  his  sacred  work,  every  day 
before  some  portion,  if  not  the  whole,  of  his 
charge. 

♦Exod.  xvii.  12. 


1 50  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

But  the  pastor  is  not  the  church,  though 
he  is  an  important  member  of  it,  and  though 
his  spiritual  prosperity  is  an  index  of  the 
prosperity  of  the  church.  "\&ithin  the  parish 
bounds  there  are  other  objects  to  be  prayed 
for,  and  these  cannot  but  arise  before  the 
praying  household.  Let  us  not  be  thought 
to  give  them  undue  prominence,  when, 
among  these  we  specify  the  poor  and  the 
afflicted.  God  has  chosen  them  for  separate 
regard  ;  "  he  thsft  honoureth  Him  hath  mercy 
on  the  poor."*  And  it  is  very  remarkable, 
that  when  Peter,  James,  and  John,  came  to 
an  agreement  with  Paul  and  Barnabas  about 
their  respective  fields  of  labour,  the  one  addi- 
tional point,  which  had  a  distinct  memoran- 
dum, was,  (in  the  language  of  Paul,)  "only 
they  would  that  we  should  remember  the 
poor  ;  the  same  which  I  also  was  forward  to 
do."f  The  indigent  members  of  a  church 
are,  in  a  special  manner,  committed  to  the 
love  and  prayers  of  Christian  families,  who, 
while  they  have  enough  and  to  spare,  will 
perhaps  cause  their  prayers  and  their  alms 
together  to  "  come  up  for  a  memorial  before 
God."  J     There  are  other  trials  of  the  fellow- 

*  Prov.  xiv.  31.  t  Gal.  ii.  10.  \  Acts  x.  4. 


FAMILY-  WOUSHIP.  151 

heirs,  which  are  to  be  borne  in  mind.  Such 
is  the  unity  of  the  catholic  body,  that  we 
ought,  at  some  seasons,  to  remember  before 
God  every  brother  and  sister  in  Christ  Jesus, 
throughout  all  the  earth.  It  is  a  delightful 
part  of  fraternal  intercession,  which  brings  to 
our  hearts  more  sensibly  than  any  thing  else 
can  do,  the  oneness  of  the  body  of  Christ. 
There  are  scattered  cases,  in  different  parts 
of  the  world,  of  brethren  who  are  so  insulated, 
and  so  remote  from  any  help,  that  they  would 
have  none  to  pray  for  them,  unless  this  spirit 
of  expansive  love  prevailed  in  the  church. 
Among  the  revelations  of  the  last  day,  we 
shall  possibly  discover  that  some  of  the  rich- 
est blessings  we  ever  received,  have  descend- 
ed on  us  in  answer  to  the  prayers  of  brethren 
whose  faces  we  shall  first  behold  on  "  that 
day." 

If  there  is  any  case  of  extraordinary  afflic- 
tion in  a  particular  church,  it  will  be  brought 
to  remembrance  in  the  hour  of  family-prayer. 
Such  references  touch  the  heart.  They  edu- 
cate youthful  sensibility,  and  train  up  the 
Christian  child  to  "  rejoice  with  them  that  do 
rejoice,  and  weep  with  them  that  weep."* 

*  Rom.  xii.  15. 


1 52  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Intercessory  prayer  is  a  part  of  devotion 
which  is  much  neglected.  The  late  excel- 
lent William  Romaine,  of  London,  has  a 
treatise  on  this  subject,  which  is  deserving  of 
perusal.  His  own  practice  was  most  exem- 
plary. He  kept  a  list  of  friends,  ministers, 
afflicted  persons,  and  others,  whom  he  made 
the  subjects  of  special  intercession  by  name, 
At  first  he  devoted  to  this  work  of  love,  a 
single  afternoon  in  each  week,  but  his  cata 
logue  increased  so  much  that  he  was  at  length 
constrained  to  devote  to  it  an  additional  even- 
ing. In  our  letters,  and  our  partings,  we  are 
accustomed,  often  too  formally,  to  ask  the 
prayers  of  our  friends.  Such  requests  are 
apt  to  be  forgotten.  Family- Worship  brings 
them  to  mind.  Here  we  can  relieve  beloved 
brethren,  whom  we  may  be  unable  to  help 
in  any  other  way.  And  what  can  be  more 
beautiful  than  a  whole  church,  with  all  its 
members,  daily  praying  for  one  another ! 
The  judgment  day  will  bring  to  light  un- 
numbered benefits  conferred  in  answer  to  the 
requests  of  devout  families. 

Besides  the  direct  consequences  of  family- 
prayer,  in  blessings  on  the  church,  there  are 
others  which  must  not  be  overlooked.     Not 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  153 

to  repeat  that  the  whole  tone  of  piety  in  a 
congregation  is  elevated  by  household  devo- 
tion, the  interests  of  the  religious  commu- 
nity, as  such,  are  kept  continually  before  the 
mind.  Those  who  pray  for  a  blessing  on  the 
word,  will  be  most  apt  to  expect  a  blessing, 
most  ready  to  mourn  over  barren  ordinances, 
most  earnest  in  longing  for  revival,  most 
compassionate  to  the  souls  of  impenitent 
hearers,  and  most  active  in  admonition,  and 
other  efforts,  for  the  saving  of  souls.  Fam- 
ily-prayer is  prayer  for  more  than  the  family; 
it  is  prayer  for  the  church  :  thus  it  seconds 
the  preaching,  and  cultivates  the  spirit  of 
love  for  the  whole  society.  Now  that  the 
ancient  Puritan  usage,  of  repeating  in  the 
house  the  sermon  which  was  heard  in  the 
church,  has  fallen  into  neglect,  it  is  useful  to 
have  such  prayers  offered  on  the  Lord's  day 
evening,  as  may  keep  up  the  impression  of 
divine  ordinances.  On  the  eve  of  sacramen- 
tal services,  the  daily  request  of  many  fami- 
lies for  the  special  presence  of  Christ  is  a 
means  of  edification  to  all  concerned.  In 
times  of  awakening,  when  multitudes  are  un- 
der the  pangs  of  conviction  for  sin,  there  is 
unspeakable  preciousness  in  a  daily  exercise 

14 


154  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

which  presents  their  case  before  God,  anc 
which  tends  to  diffuse  the  healthful  influence 
on  every  side. 

All  these  incidental  advantages  derived  by 
the  clmrch  from  Family-Worship,  may  be 
referred  to  a  single  principle  :  the  interests  of 
the  body  are  brought  home  to  the  house. 
11  Now  are  they  many  members,  yet  but  one 
body."*  The  views  of  the  humble  private 
Christian  are  enlarged,  to  take  in,  first  the 
particular  church  of  which  he  is  a  member, 
and  then  the  whole  assemblage  of  Christ's 
people.  Surely  this  is  no  unimportant  con- 
tribution to  catholic  unity. 

We  live  in  an  age  when,  through  divine 
grace,  evangelical  Christians  all  over  the 
earth  are  awakened  to  a  new  zeal  for  the  pro- 
pagation of  the  gospel,  and  for  general  charity, 
by  means  of  associated  effort.  Towards  this 
grand  result  millions  of  gold  and  silver  are 
bestowed  ;  but  no  gift  of  the  church  is  equal 
to  her  prayers.  It  is  not  enough  that  these 
enterprises  should  have  a  place  in  the  sanc- 
tuary, they  must  have  a  place  at  the  fireside. 
As  the  spirit  of  missions,  and  the  desire  of 
Christ's    appearing,   increase   among   us,    a 

*  1  Cor.  xii.  20. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  155 

change  will  be  recognised  in  our  family  de- 
votions. The  diffusion  of  God's  word  will 
form  a  theme  of  daily  supplication.  The 
missionary,  the  Sabbath-school  teacher,  and 
the  agent  of  public  benevolence,  will  be 
solemnly  and  affectionately  commended  to 
God  by  praying  households.  Now  this  can- 
not be  continued  for  any  length  of  time  with- 
out a  manifest  influence  on  all  who  are  thus 
employed.  The  most  experienced  of  the  cir- 
cle will  find  their  public  spirit,  their  philan- 
thropy, and  their  zeal  for  Christ's  house, 
augmented  by  this  repeated  utterance  of  be- 
nevolent desires.  The  children,  youth,  and 
sojourners,  of  the  house,  will  learn  to  view 
these  works  of  charity  as  an  essential  part  of 
religion,  never  to  be  out  of  sight  even  for  so 
much  as  a  day.  No  agency  will  do  more  to 
extend,  and  render  universal,  the  participa- 
tion of  all  our  church-members  in  the  great 
aggressive  work  of  the  church.  A  due  appli- 
cation of  these  truths  to  the  prayers  of  our 
families,  would  put  an  end  to  those  mortify- 
ing and  fearful  revelations,  made  from  time 
to  time,  of  whole  congregations,  and  even 
whole  presb}^teries,  which  contribute  nothing 
to  the  spread  of  the  gospel  in  foreign  lands. 


1 56  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Prayer  would  lead  to  action,  and  new  energy- 
would  be  infused  into  our  missions,  foreign 
and  domestic,  our  education  of  pious  youth, 
and  our  circulation  of  Christian  books, 
through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land. 
It  is  respectfully  suggested,  that  pastors  and 
elders  may  conduce  to  this  end,  by  timely 
counsels,  as  to  the  mode  of  conducting  fam- 
ily-prayer, and  by  their  own  example,  when 
called  upon  to  lead  in  the  prayers  of  a  house- 
hold. The  people  at  large  need  to  be  en- 
couraged to  enlarge  their  petitions  for  these 
great  objects,  and  to  bring  them  constantly 
within  the  circle  of  their  household  devo- 
tions. 

"We  have  reserved  for  this  place  a  point 
which  appears  to  us  to  be  second  to  no  other 
in  its  bearing  on  this  branch  of  our  subject; 
we  mean  family-prayer  for  the  outpouring  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  on  the  church.  The  duty 
and  privilege  of  such  prayer,  in  general,  are 
acknowledged  by  every  pious  heart.  We 
desire  to  call  attention  to  the  necessity  of 
such  prayer,  as  a  part  of  daily  household 
worship.  A  church  is  already  in  a  state  of 
revival  when  all  its  praying  families  are 
thus  engaged  in  sincerity.     But  in  the  cold- 


FAMIL  Y-WORSHir.  1 57 

est  times,  those  that  fear  the  Lord  should 
make  conscience  of  bearing  this  matter  on 
their  hearts  before  God,  amidst  their  families. 
Immense  power  is  thus  added  to  the  public 
ministry  of  the  word.  It  is  lamentable,  that 
so  many  live  as  if  the  whole  weight  of  re- 
sponsibility was  with  the  preacher,  and  as  if 
they  had  no  sort  of  concern  in  the  success  of 
his  work.  Periods  of  great  awakening,  ever 
since  the  day  of  Pentecost,  have  been  com- 
monly preceded  by  united  and  earnest  prayer 
for  this  particular  blessing,  on  the  part  of 
"  the  multitude  of  them  that  believed."  That 
professing  Christian  who  truly  longs  for  such 
an  awakening  as  shall  bring  into  the  church 
his  children,  his  neighbours,  and  all  that  are 
afar  off,  can  in  no  way  more  directly  contri- 
bute towards  the  blessed  result,  than  by  de- 
liberately and  uninterruptedly  making  it 
enter  into  the  prayers  in  which  he  leads  his 
household.  Where  this  is  forgotten,  it  is  no 
marvel  if  religion  declines,  and  if  the  uncon- 
verted members  of  the  family  draw  the  natu- 
ral conclusion,  that,  after  all,  their  impenitent 
condition  is  an  evil  too  unimportant  to  be 
presented  before  God. 

Why  should  there  not  be  a  union  of  f ami- 

14* 


158  F  AMIL  Y-WORSHIP. 

lies  in  such  prayers,  by  an  agreement,  one 
day  in  the  week,  to  regard  this  with  especial 
earnestness  in  their  domestic  worship  ?  This 
would  at  once  be  a  concert  in  prayer.  The 
history  of  those  measures  which  led  to  our 
existing  Monthly  Concert  of  Prayer,  (as  it  is 
called)  is  full  of  instruction  and  encourage- 
ment. In  October,  1744,  a  number  of  Scot- 
tish ministers  adopted  a  method,  for  a  limited 
period  of  two  years,  namely,  to  set  apart 
some  time  on  Saturday  evening,  and  on  the 
Lord's  day  morning,  and  more  solemnly  the 
first  Tuesday  of  each  quarter.  Great  num- 
bers in  Scotland  and  England  fell  in  with  the 
proposal,  and  some  in  America.  In  Edin- 
burgh alone  there  were  as  many  as  thirty 
praying  societies,  some  of  which  consisted  of 
upwards  of  thirty  members.  The  details  are 
not  here  given,  because  our  intention  is  only 
to  recommend  the  principle,  as  applicable  to 
domestic  prayer.  But  there  are  some  judi- 
cious remarks  of  Edwards,  on  the  Scottish 
memorial  respecting  this  subject,  which  are 
worthy  of  insertion,  as  intimately  connected 
wdth  the  very  topic  in  hand. 

"  Union  is  one  of  the  most  amiable  things 
that  appertain  to  human  society,  yea,  it  is 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  159 

one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  happy  things 
on  earth,  which  indeed  makes  earth  most 
like  heaven.  God  has  made  of  one  blood  all 
nations  of  men,  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the 
earth,  hereby  teaching  us  this  moral  lesson, 
that  it  becomes  mankind  all  to  be  united  as 
one  family.  And  this  is  agreeable  to  the 
nature  that  God  has  given  men,  disposing 
them  to  society  ;  and  the  circumstances  God 
has  placed  them  in,  so  many  ways  obliging 
and  necessitating  them  to  it." — "  As  it  is  the 
glory  of  the  church  of  Christ  that  she,  in  all 
her  members,  however  dispersed,  is  thus  one 
holy  society,  one  city,  one  family,  one  body ; 
so  it  is  very  desirable  that  this  union  should 
be  manifested  and  become  visible,  and  so, 
that  her  distant  members  should  act  as  one, 
in  those  things  that  concern  the  common  in- 
terest of  the  whole  body,  and  in  those  duties 
and  exercises  wherein  they  have  to  do  with 
their  common  Lord  and  Head,  as  seeking  of 
him  the  common  prosperity.  It  becomes  all 
the  members  of  a  particular  family,  wrho  are 
so  strictly  united,  and  have  in  so  many  re- 
spects, one  common  interest,  to  unite  in  prayer 
to  God  for  the  things  they  need ;  it  becomes 
a  nation,    in   days  of  prayer   appointed   by 


160  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

national  authority,  at  certain  seasons  visibly 
to  unite  in  prayer  for  those  public  mercies 
which  concern  the  interest  of  the  whole 
nation ;  so  it  becomes  the  church  of  Christ, 
which  is  one  holy  nation,  a  peculiar  people, 
one  heavenly  family,  more  strictly  united  in 
many  respects,  and  having  infinitely  greater 
interests,  that  are  common  to  the  wThole,  than 
any  other  society,  I  say,  it  especially  becomes 
this  society  visibly  to  unite,  and  expressly  to 
agree  together  in  prayer  to  God,  for  the  com- 
mon prosperity.' ' 

There  is  nothing  in  such  a  proposal  which 
may  not  be  carried  out  in  its  principle,  by  an 
agreement  among  Christian  brethren  in  re- 
gard to  their  Family- Worship.  Thus,  mind- 
ing the  same  things,  they  would  be  drawn 
together  by  a  tie  of  peculiar  tenderness,  and 
would  feel  all  the  binding  influences  of  Chris- 
tian friendship  increased  in  strength. 

In  regard  to  the  education  of  children  who 
have  already  been  dedicated  to  God  in  their 
baptism,  no  salutary  influence  can  be  con- 
sidered small.  Such  children  ought  to  grow 
up  in  the  midst  of  prayers  which  may  teach 
them  how  to  pray.  They  should  learn,  from 
the   beginning,  to  look,   not  on   their  own 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  161 

things  only,  but  every  one  "  also  on  the  things 
of  others ;"  and  to  regard  the  church  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the  great  object  of  their 
affection,  even  from  their  earliest  years.  All 
the  sentiments  which,  as  we  have  said 
above,  are  cultivated  by  Family-Worship,  are 
brought  into  the  warm  and  ductile  affections 
of  the  youthful  heart,  among  the  most  favour- 
able circumstances:  So  that  we  are  justified 
in  expecting  a  marked  difference,  in  respect 
to  largeness  of  soul,  and  expansive  benevo- 
lence, and  attachment  to  the  church,  between 
one  who  has  passed  his  childhood  in  a  house 
of  prayer,  and  one  who  has  lived  through 
that  period  of  momentous  interest  among 
neglecters  of  God. 

Can  the  church  willingly  forego  an  instru- 
mentality which  promises  these  results  ?  Can 
professors  of  faith  in  Christ  deny  themselves 
and  their  little  ones  a  means  of  grace  which 
God  so  blesses,  or  remain  among  the  dangers 
of  the  "heathen,  and  the  families  that  call 
not  on  his  name?" 


162 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE    INFLUENCE    OF    FAMILY-WORSHIP    ON    THE   COM- 
MONWEALTH. 

To  the  earthly  politician  nothing  can  seem 
more  absurd  than  to  ascribe  to  the  devotions 
of  private  Christians,  any  power  in  regard  to 
states  and  empires.  Religion  is  an  element 
in  political  changes  not  recognised  by  the 
wisdom  of  this  world.  Yet  it  cannot  be  a 
matter  of  indifference,  even  in  respect  to  civil 
government  and  national  wealth,  that  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  families,  dispersed 
abroad  in  the  earth,  are  daily  addressing 
themselves  to  God  in  prayer.  And  it  may 
turn  out  to  be  true,  that  a  nation  in  which 
all  the  families  shall  be  thus  employed,  will 
derive  from  this  very  peculiarity  a  character 
conducive  to  public  strength. 

Before  treating  of  the  direct  influence  of 
prayer  on  nations,  we  ask  attention  to  some 
particulars  which  are  too  much  neglected. 
The  indispensable  material  of  a  happy  State, 
is  a  body  of  good  citizens.  It  is  not  territory, 
fertile  soil,  mines,  cities,  arts,  navies,  armies, 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  1 63 

monuments,  laws,  constitutions,  or  even  lib- 
erty, which  sustain  and  ennoble  a  people : 
but  good  citizens.  That  which  makes  good 
citizens,  tends  directly  to  the  felicity  and 
glory  of  a  State.  This  will  not  be  denied, 
in  an  age  and  country  of  which  it  is  the  ge- 
nius to  flatter,  and  almost  deify  the  people. 
Viewing  the  matter  even  from  the  low  point 
of  temporal  things,  all  admit  that  the  power 
and  stability  of  government  reside  in  the  vir- 
tue of  the  citizens. 

This  grand  desideratum  is  to  be  secured, 
not  by  wholesale  enactment,  but  in  detail. 
No  general  arrangements,  however  good,  can 
reach  the  mind  of  the  people.  Legislation 
and  polity  presuppose  good  citizenship.  Na- 
tional virtue  is  the  virtue  of  collected  indivi- 
duals. The  power  to  be  applied,  for  this 
result,  will  therefore  operate  to  most  advan- 
tage when  brought  to  bear  on  the  primary 
and  constituent  portions,  especially  on  each 
family  and  each  individual. 

To  make  good  citizens  we  must  begin 
early.  It  is  too  late  when  the  adult  charac- 
ter is  attained.  Hence  the  acknowledged  im- 
portance  of  universal  education  in  a  free 
country.     But   this   early  training   may  be 


164  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

complete  in  respect  of  intellectual  discipline, 
and  may  yet  be  inadequate.  We  need  moral 
qualities  in  the  good  citizen.  If  we  could  so 
descend  to  the  elements  of  society,  as  to  make 
every  family  a  school  of  sound  principles 
and  virtuous  habits,  we  should  plainly  be 
dealing  with  the  very  factors  and  constitu- 
ents of  a  prosperous  State ;  and  the  method 
which  should  accomplish  this  would  be  a 
national  blessing.  Such  a  method  is  domes- 
tic religion ;  including,  as  one  of  its  principal 
parts,  Family-Worship.  We  are  prepared  to 
maintain  that  this  institution  cannot  flourish 
in  any  country  without  directly  contributing 
to  those  habits  which  are  favourable  to  law, 
order,  and  peace. 

It  is  not  more  true  that  the  infant  brood 
grows  to  the  power  of  caring  for  themselves, 
in  the  nest,  than  that  men  are  formed  into 
the  habits  of  life,  in  the  family.  It  is  the 
earliest,  cheapest,  safest,  and  mightiest  insti- 
tution for  this  purpose.  Hence  it  is  the  espe- 
cial object  of  assault  from  the  gathering 
hordes  of  disorganizing  reformers  in  our  day. 
On  every  side,  under  the  guidance  of  the  St. 
Simons,  Fouriers,  and  Owens,  we  hear  the 
outcry  against  the  domestic  temple; — "Rase 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  165 

it,  rase  it,  even  to  the  foundations  thereof."* 
Ignorant  of  the  true  sources  of  pauperism 
and  oppression,  our  puling  pseudo-philan- 
thropists are  in  perpetual  agitation  about  the 
wrongs  of  labor,  the  rights  of  women,  and 
the  reconstruction  of  society.  "  Association," 
such  as  they  propose,  would  pluck  away  the 
hearth-stone,  and  break  the  marriage-ring. 
Forgetful  of  the  homely  sentence,  that  the 
largest  house  is  not  large  enough  for  two 
families,  they  would  take  down  all  partitions, 
throw  a  whole  community  into  one,  cashier 
the  natural  guardians  of  infancy,  and  subject 
masses  of  youth,  in  phalanxes,  to  the  regi- 
mental drill  of  a  newly-invented  education. 
As  bubble  after  bubble  explodes,  and  succes- 
sive prophets  of  Socialism  fall  into  deserved 
contempt,  it  is  hoped  that  the  world  will  be- 
come satisfied  with  the  constitution  which 
dates  back  as  far  as  Paradise. 

Every  Christian  household  is  a  school  of 
good  citizenship.  This  might  be  safely  rest- 
ed on  reasons  already  given.  But  one  or 
two  particulars  merit  separate  consideration. 
Family-Worship,  as  we  have  seen,  promotes 
habits  of  order.     It  brings  a  stated  regulation 

*  Psalm  cxxxvii  7. 
15 


166  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

into  the  house,  and  gathers  the  inmates  by 
a  fixed  law.  It  sets  up  a  wholesome  bar- 
rier against  wanton  irregularity,  sloth,  and 
night-wandering.  It  encourages  early  hours, 
thoughtfulness,  and  affection ;  and  above  all, 
it  adds  strength  to  the  principle  of  sub- 
ordination and  obedience;  a  point  which  we 
dare  not  pass  lightly. 

Good  citizens  are  such  as  abide  by  the  law, 
and  submit  themselves  to  authority.  The 
habit  of  so  doing  must  be  formed  under  the 
parental  roof.  All  the  duties  of  subjects  and 
citizens  range  themselves  under  the  fifth 
commandment;  and  he  who  is  not  a  good 
son  cannot  be  a  good  citizen.  Here  we  may 
refer  to  a  passage  already  cited,  in  which 
God  says  of  Abraham:  "I  know  him,  that 
he  will  command  his  children  and  his  house- 
hold after  him."*  Domestic  discipline  is  an 
ordinance  of  God.  As  the  family  was  the 
earliest  community,  so  this  is  the  earliest 
form  of  government;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  dreams  of  Rousseau  and  his  disciples, 
about  a  social  contract,  which  never  existed, 
here  is  the  true  origin  of  States.  Observe 
the  connexion:  "Abram  shall  surely  become 

*  Gen.  xviii.  19. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  167 

a  great  and  mighty  nation :  for  I  know  him, 
that  he  will  command  his  children."  Here 
is  the  influence  of  family-religion  on  the  com- 
monwealth. We  have  already  said  enough 
to  show  the  bearing  of  domestic  worship  on 
parental  control  and  filial  obedience :  our  pre- 
sent inquiry  is  in  regard  to  the  tendency  of 
this  to  public  safety  and  peace. 

The  popular  evils  which  threaten  our 
country,  arise  in  great  measure  from  a  spirit 
of  insubordination;  and  this  is  caused  by 
neglect  of  parental  authority.  He  who  has 
never  learned  to  obey  and  honour  his  father 
and  his  mother,  will  never  yield  himself  to 
magistracy  and  law.  The  evil  is  bold  and 
increasing.  Children  become  men  with  a 
frightful  precocity.  Travellers  from  abroad 
complain  that  there  are  no  boys  among  us, 
but  only  infants  and  men  :  the  period  of  sub- 
ordination is  overleaped.  In  our  cities  the 
streets  are  filled  with  hordes  of  urchins,  who 
appear  to  acknowledge  no  loyalty  to  any 
household.  These  are  the  materials  for  mobs 
and  insurrections,  the  candidates  for  gaols 
and  gibbets,  and  alms-houses,  and  vessels  of 
piracy.  It  is  needless  to  say,  that  the  houses 
from  which  such   youth   proceed,  enjoy  no 


168  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

worship  of  God  ;  but  wre  conceive  it  to  be  im- 
portant to  add,  that  the  conscientious  obser- 
vance of  family-devotion  will  go  far  to  pre- 
vent such  enormities.  A  nation  of  families 
worshipping  God  will  ever  be  a  nation  of 
law  and  order. 

No  municipal  police  can  make  up  for  the 
absence  of  domestic  authority.  The  weaken- 
ing of  this  principle  over  a  whole  land,  is  no- 
thing but  the  rupture  of  each  several  link  in 
the  chain.  As  the  evil  advances,  we  lose  the 
very  material  of  magistracy,  and  the  capacity 
for  firm  and  gentle  command.  The  scriptu- 
ral maxim  is,  that  he  who  cannot  rule  at 
home,  cannot  rule  abroad.  The  bishop,  or 
minister,  must  be  "one  that  ruleth  well  his 
own  house,  having  his  children  in  subjection 
with  all  gravity ;  for  if  a  man  know  not  how 
to  rule  his  own  house,  how  shall  he  take  care 
of  the  Church  of  God  ?"*  The  principle  ad- 
mits of  an  equal  application  to  civil  govern- 
ment. The  discipline  of  the  family  cannot 
be  invaded  without  a  corresponding  disor- 
ganization of  society.  And  the  great  end  is 
to  be  attained,  not  by  adding  strength  to  go- 
vernment, or  stringency  to  laws,  or  terror  to 

*  1  Tim.  iii.  5. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  169 

punishments,  but  by  training  in  every  house 
in  the  land  a  group  of  Christian  citizens, 
habituated  to  manly  obedience. 

We  have  still  to  consider  the  great  and 
crowning  favour  which  Family-Worship  con- 
fers on  the  commonwealth :  it  brings  down 
heavenly  blessings  from  the  prayer-hearing 
God. 

Take  out  of  a  nation  its  praying  souls,  and 
you  leave  it  defenceless  and  accursed.  Cities 
and  kingdoms  have  been  spared  for  the  sake 
of  Christ's  people  who  were  in  them.  Jeho- 
vah would  have  withheld  his  destroying  ven- 
geance from  Sodom  and  the  cities  of  the 
plain,  "for  ten's  sake."*  The  cries  of  the 
poor,  who  fear  God,  "  enter  into  the  ears  of 
the  Lord  of  Sabaoth."f  Politicians  attri- 
bute no  potency  to  the  prayers  of  believers, 
but  they  are  heard  in  heaven.  They  have, 
before  now,  averted  great  evils,  and  procured 
great  deliverances.  Israel  wTas  about  to  be 
utterly  consumed  at  Taherah,  but  "  when 
Moses  prayed  unto  the  Lord,  the  fire  w^as 
quenched."  J  The  agonizing  prayer  of  Daniel 
for   his   people,   wTas    mighty   before    God.§ 

*  Gen.  xviii.  32.  f  James  v.  4. 

\  Numb.  xi.  2.  $  Dan.  x.  14. 

15* 


170  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

When  the  Most  High  is  about  to  return  to  a 
guilty  people,  he  does  it  in  answer  to  prayer, 
and  summons  those  who  fear  him  to  humi- 
liation :  "  Let  the  bridegroom  go  forth  of  his 
chamber,  and  the  bride  out  of  her  closet :  let 
the  priests,  the  Lord's  ministers,  weep  be- 
tween the  porch  and  the  altar,  and  let  them 
say,  Spare  thy  people,  O  Lord."*  The 
angel  who  stands  with  a  drawn  sword  over  a 
country,  is  no  doubt  often  recalled  by  reason 
of  those  prayers  which  are  forgotten  by  sin- 
ful rulers  and  a  profane  people. 

True  Christians  feel  it  to  be  their  bounden 
duty  to  pray  for  the  government.  Though 
we  have  no  prescribed  liturgical  form  for 
this,  in  our  public  service,  we  hold  it  to  be 
an  important  part  of  intercession.  We  have 
known  ministers  to  be  charged  with  partizan- 
ship  in  politics,  because  they  publicly  prayed 
for  the  chief  magistrate.  No  patriot  and 
no  Christian  can  consistently  refuse  so  to 
pray,  with  fulness  and  earnestness.  It  would 
be  dreadful,  indeed,  if  the  devotions  of  God's 
house  were  to  take  their  direction  from  the 
gusts  of  political  opinion.  It  is  no  human 
rubric,  but  an  inspired  oracle,  which  enjoins 

*  Joel  ii.  16, 17. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  -  171 

that  "  supplications,  prayers,  intercessions, 
and  giving  of  thanks  be  made  for  all  men ; 
for  kings,  and  for  all  that  are  in  authority  ; 
that  we  may  lead  a  peaceable  life,  in  all  godli- 
ness and  honesty."*  Such  prayers  go  up 
from  the  devout  household  also,  and  the  more 
they  are  multiplied,  the  more  reason  is  there 
to  hope  for  national  prosperity. 

Men  who  love  their  country  will  delight 
to  take  their  households  with  them  to  the 
throne  of  grace,  in  beseeching  God's  favour 
in  any  great  national  emergency.  When 
questions  of  vast  moment  are  in  suspense, 
when  divisions  are  threatened,  especially 
when  the  country  is  at  war,  the  prayers  of 
Christian  families  in  every  church  through- 
out the  land,  are  exerting  an  unseen  agency, 
outweighing,  perhaps,  the  deliberations  of 
senates,  and  cabinets,  and  councils  of  war. 
And  the  youth  who  are  trained  to  such  pray- 
ers, are  growing  up  in  the  best  school  of 
patriotism.  No  man  will  be  less  likely  to 
love  his  country,  for  having  been  taught  to 
pray  for  it  every  day. 

A  land  covered  by  praying  families  may 
be  well   called  a  Christian   land.     That   it 

*  1  Timothy  ii.  1,  2. 


172  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

would  be  happy  in  proportion,  even  in  civil 
affairs,  can  be  denied  only  by  those  who  re- 
ject all  religion.  Were  every  town  in  Ame- 
rica, in  this  respect,  what  Kidderminster  was, 
in  the  days  of  Baxter,  we  should,  indeed,  be 
the  glory  of  all  lands.  It  is  all  that  we  need 
for  our  exaltation,  and  the  method  by  which 
it  is  to  be  sought  is  not  remote  or  recondite, 
not  the  method  of  association  or  agitation,  or 
waiting  for  others  to  concur ;  it  is  simply  for 
every  man  in  his  place  to  set  up  the  worship 
of  God.  The  true  way  to  bring  health  to  a 
diseased  nation,  is  to  carry  the  cure  to  every 
house.  The  aggregate  energy  of  a  multitude 
of  zealous  families,  united  in  prayer  for  the 
country,- is  beyond  all  computation  :  it  is  this 
which  "  exalteth  a  nation."  Patriotism  could 
confer  nothing  better  on  the  land  she  loves, 
than  to  kindle  this  fire  on  every  hearth.  The 
voice  of  thanksgiving  and  joy  would  burst 
over  the  domestic  and  national  walls,  and 
reach  the  most  distant  lands.  Who  will  not 
pray  for  such  a  consummation  ?  "  Let  the 
people  praise  thee,  O  God ;  let  all  the  people 
praise  thee.  Then  shall  the  earth  yield  her 
increase;  and  God,  even  our  own  God,  shall 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  173 

bless  us.     God  shall  bless  us;  and  all  the 
ends  of  the  earth  shall  fear  him."* 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

INFLUENCE    OF    FAMILY- WORSHIP    ON    POSTERITY. 

He  was  a  churl  who  said,  "  Why  should  I 
care  for  posterity  ?  What  has  posterity  done 
for  me  ?"  Only  a  mean  and  selfish  mind  can 
be  indifferent  as  to  what  is  coming  on  the 
earth.  If  any  such  meaning  was  involved 
in  the  obscure  words  of  king  Hezekiah,  he 
was  certainly  not  generous  in  his  thoughts, 
when,  on  hearing  the  sentence  of  God,  he 
exclaimed,  "  Is  it  not  good,  if  peace  and  truth 
be  in  my  days?"|  We  take  pleasure  in  re- 
ceiving the  words  in  a  nobler  sense.  There 
are  men,  however,  whose  maxim  is,  "  Let  us 
eat  and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we  die."  J  They 
close  their  eyes  to  every  thing  which  may 
happen  after  they  are  gone,  content  to  live  in 
self-indulgence,  and  to  let  their  children  take 

*  Psa.  lxvii.  5,  6,  7.      \2  Kings  xx.  19.      f  1  Cor.  xv.  32. 


1 74  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

their  chance.  The  religion  of  the  Bible  sets 
itself  in  stern  opposition  to  such  a  temper. 
It  constantly  directs  our  view  to  children, 
and  children's  children ;  teaching  us  that  all 
the  good  which  we  have  is  to  be  transmitted. 
The  Church,  the  Bible,  and  the  Sacraments, 
are  made  a  part  of  this  chain.  Our  children 
are  brought  to  baptism,  as  the  sons  of  ancient 
believers  were  brought  to  circumcision,  that 
they  may  be  introduced  into  this  series,  and 
the  blessings  of  the  Church  are  a  sacred  trust 
for  remote  ages.  True  patriotism  speaks  the 
same  language.  The  fathers  of  our  Consti- 
tution provided  for  contingencies  yet  in  re- 
serve, and  far  distant,  and  wise  legislation  is 
perpetually  endeavouring  to  pierce  the  fu- 
ture, and  to  secure  the  welfare  of  the  coun- 
try when  the  present  generation  shall  be  no 
more.  Institutions  which  hold  out  a  pro- 
mise of  good  to  those  who  shall  come  after 
us,  cannot  but  be  dear  to  the  patriot  and  the 
parent.  Natural  affection  and  parental  piety 
are  far-sighted,  and  look  down  the  misty 
prospect  with  an  anxious  gaze.  No  man  who 
is  worthy  of  the  name  of  a  father,  can  be  un- 
concerned in  regard  to  the  destiny  of  his 
children,  or  even   his   remote   descendants. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  175 

This  consideration  has  entered  largely  into 
the  legal  usages  and  statutes  of  all  nations, 
and  especially  colours  the  common  law  of 
our  ancestors.  We  observe  it  in  the  primo- 
geniture and  entails  of  England,  and  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  tenure  of.  lands.  It  is  re- 
markably operative  in  all  testamentary  dis- 
position of  estates.  Those  who  accumulate 
property  are  chiefly  influenced  by  a  regard 
for  their  offspring,  and  when  they  can  no 
longer  enjoy  it  themselves,  leave  no  cautions 
unobserved  in  order  to  secure  it  to  their 
families.  Rising  to  a  level  of  higher  benevo- 
lence, we  observe  the  principle  operating  in 
charitable  bequests,  and  endowments,  and  in 
the  founding  of  institutions  which  are  known 
to  be  capable  of  only  a  partial  influence  in 
the  present  day.  It  is  the  chief  function  of 
governments  to  provide  for  this  very  result, 
to  be  realized  long  after  those  who  make  and 
administer  the  laws  have  passed  from  hu- 
man things. 

It  cannot  have  escaped  the  observation  of 
any  reflective  mind,  .that,  among  the  links 
which  connect  the  existing  race  with  poste- 
rity, the  most  essential  is  the  Family.  It  is, 
indeed,  the  very  point  of  connexion.     The 


1 76  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

whole  series  is  resolvable  into  the  natural 
sequence  of  father  and  son.  For  which  rea 
son  Divine  Providence  has  seized  upon  this 
relation  as  the  channel  for  conveying  down 
the  blessings  of  religion,  as  we  may  observe 
in  numerous  rites  and  institutions.  We  re- 
gard Family- Worship  as  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant of  these. 

While  it  is  true  that  all  religious  institu- 
tions affect  posterity,  it  is  more  eminently 
true  that  those  institutions  have  this  ten- 
dency, which  bear  primarily  and  directly  on 
the  family-connexion.  If  the  piety  of  any 
man  is  likely  to  carry  its  impulse  into  com- 
ing years,  more  signally  will  that  piety  do 
so,  which,  through  sovereign  grace,  flows 
from  the  father  to  the  child,  and  above  all  in 
those  particular  acts  which  concern  the  edu- 
cation of  the  child.  We  never  aim  so  imme- 
diately at  the  next  generation,  as  when  we 
govern  the  parental  influence :  it  is  directing 
and  purifying  the  spring,  before  it  widens 
into  the  stream.  The  geometrical  ratio  of 
human  increase  adds  force  to  this  considera- 
tion, and  shows  that  in  the  economy  of  means 
we  work  at  a  great  advantage,  when  we  se- 
cure any  good  to  the  prolific  source  of  mul- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  177 

titudes  of  men.  It  is,  therefore,  far  more 
hopeful  to  pour  truth  and  holiness  on  a  sin- 
gle household,  now,  than  to  found  a  system 
which  shall  address  its  influence  to  hundreds 
half  a  century  hence.  Family-religion  ga- 
thers fresh  importance  when  we  extend  our 
views  a  little  into  the  future. 

It  has  pleased  God  to  have  special  regard 
to  the  transmission  of  religion  by  domestic 
means.  His  covenant  is  from  father  to  son. 
He  is  the  God  of  Abraham,  of  Isaac,  and  of 
Jacob.  Circumcision  was  the  "  token  of  the 
covenant,''  between  Jehovah  and  his  peo- 
ple.* The  Passover  was  a  family-rite.  It 
had  regard  to  posterity.  "  Ye  shall  observe 
this  thing  for  an  ordinance  to  thee  and  to  thy 
sons  for  ever"-{  It  was  part  of  the  annual 
family- worship  of  Israel.  It  was  a  means  of 
instruction  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  truth. 
"  It  shall  come  to  pass,  when  your  children 
shall  say  unto  you,  What  mean  ye  by  this 
service  ?  that  ye  shall  say,  It  is  the  sacrifice 
of  the  Lord's  Passover,  who  passed  over  the 
houses  of  the  children  of  Israel  in  Egypt, 
when  he  smote  the  Egyptians  and  delivered 
our  houses. "J      Infant  baptism,  which  has 

*  Gen.  xvii.  11,  f  Exod.  xii.  24.  J  Exod.  xii.  26,  27. 

16 


1 78  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

come  in  the  place  of  the  ancient  initiation, 
under  the  enlarged  privileges  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  has  not  abandoned  the  princi- 
ple, but  involves  the  obligation  of  parents  to 
pray  with  and  for  their  children,  and  to 
bring  them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admoni- 
tion of  the  Lord. 

The  gracious  promises  of  God  to  his 
Church,  while  they  do  not  necessarily  trans- 
mit salvation  in  the  line  of  natural  descent, 
perpetually  recognise  the  relation  of  parent 
and  child.  God  determines  that  his  great 
favours  shall  descend  from  age  to  age.  The 
promise  is  to  you  and  to  your  children. 
From  the  beginning  of  the  world,  he  has 
dealt  with  mankind  on  the  family-principle. 
Every  covenant  has  comprised  succeeding 
generations.  The  federal  and  representative 
element,  variously  modified,  is  in  every  sys- 
tem, from  Eden  to  Pentecost.  It  is  breathed 
in  the  first  promise — it  beams  in  the  bow  of 
Ararat — it  fills  the  starry  page  of  Abraham* 
— it  is  uttered  through  the  fires  of  Sinai — it 
is  inscribed  on  the  blood)r  lintel  of  Egypt — 
it  flows  in  the  household-baptism  of  the  New 
Testament.     God,  in  his  sovereign  pleasure, 

*  Gen.  xv.  5. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  179 

makes  the  parental  and  filial  relation  the 
means  of  great  blessing  in  natural  things; 
he  is  further  pleased  to  sanctify  it,  and  use  it 
as  a  vehicle  for  heavenly  things.  He  might 
have  saved  us  singly,  in  insulation,  pluck- 
ing one  and  another  from  the  corrupt,  perish- 
ing mass.  It  would  have  been  infinite  grace  ! 
But,  blessed  be  his  name,  he  has  decreed 
otherwise.  The  "  word  of  this  life  "  is  not  a 
cistern,  but  a  fountain;  and  it  flows  from 
father  to  child.  Not  that  by  natural  descent, 
or  inheritance,  we  can  convey  this  deposite. 
Not  that  the  succession  is  always  unbroken. 
Even  here  Jehovah  reserves  a  place  for  the 
display  of  his  sovereignty,  and  a  motive  for 
the  diligence  of  the  parent.  Ah  !  we  cannot 
forget  the  names  of  Hophni  and  Phinehas, 
of  Amnon  and  Absalom.  Yet  the  principle 
abides.  Branches  may  die,  but  the  tree  still 
flourishes.  Families  may  die  out,  but  the 
race  is  not  extinct.  Nay,  more,  it  is  remarks- 
able  how  generally  and  how  widely  religion 
descends  in  the  line  of  father  and  son.  There 
is  every  thing  to  encourage  prayer  and  faith- 
ful training,  and  living  hope,  even  while  we 
are  not  allowed  to  look  for  the  salvation  of 
our  children  as  a  matter  of  course. 


1 80  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Here  is  our  chief  hope  for  posterity.  This 
kindles  an  altar  of  perpetual  fire  in  the  house. 
This  lightens  our  faces  when  we  hold  our 
little  ones  for  the  affusion  of  baptism.  This 
revives  our  souls  when  we  fold  their  hands 
in  ours,  as  they  kneel  beside  us.  This  con- 
secrates the  delightful  moment,  when  their 
lisping  words  first  echo  to  us  the  name  of 
Jesus.  This  spreads  a  canopy  of  promise 
over  the  morning  and  the  evening  group  in 
the  tabernacle  of  prayer.  And  this  lifts  us 
above  ourselves  when  we  catch  a  Sabbath 
glimpse  of  the  towers  of  the  sanctuary,  and 
lead  our  chief  treasures  along  the  way;  when 
the  little  hand  throbs  in  ours,  and  we  say, 
"  Come,  let  us  go  up  to  the  house  of  the 
Lord." 

It  is  by  the  salvation  of  the  children  of  the 
Church,  more  than  from  all  other  means,  that 
we  hope  for  the  salvation  of  the  world.  It  is 
by  this  very  method,  as  we  observe  in  his- 
tory, that  the  word  of  grace  has  been  carried 
abroad  from  land  to  land,  and  brought  down 
to  us.  Amidst  many  seeming  failures,  the 
holy  seed  is  kept  up.  Take  the  darkest 
view,  there  is  scarcely  a  Christian  family  in 
a  thousand,  of  those  who  daily  worship  God, 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  181 

in  which  one  member  does  not  maintain  the 
succession,  while  there  are  thousands,  of 
which  every  member  is  a  visible  believer. 
The  stream  often  runs  under  ground.  The 
descendants  of  the  first  converts  are  possibly 
on  earth  now.  Within  a  very  few  years 
the  descendants  of  Luther,  whose  life  was 
thought  extinct,  have  been  picked  up  in 
Germany,  poor  and  squalid,  to  be  embraced 
by  Christian  charity.  There  are  clergymen 
now  in  the  Scottish  church,  who  have  de- 
scended- from  an  unbroken  line,  not  only  of 
believers,  but  of  ministers  :  and  there  is  a 
blessed  instance  in  our  own  communion,  of 
six  living  preachers  of  the  gospel,  all  "sons 
of  one  man,"  himself  a  servant  of  the  sanc- 
tuary. He  who  preserves  the  seed  of  Abra- 
ham, though  sifted  among  all  nations,  will 
find  it  easy  to  preserve  his  spiritual  seed. 
When  the  terms  of  .this  covenant  are,  by 
divine  power,  made  to  take  effect  by  means 
of  Christian  education,  holy  example,  and 
family  prayer,  the  increase  is  often  manifold, 
in  that  astonishing,  redoubling  proportion, 
which  is  a  law  of  human  growth.  Th\is  the 
tree  spreads  its  boughs,  and  scatters  its  fruit; 
the  original  blessing  does  not  die  in  the  hands 

16* 


182  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

of  those  who  receive  it,  but  is  widely  com- 
municated. And  the  latter  glory  shall  be  a 
period  when,  as  we  think,  the  promise  shall 
be  accomplished  universally.  "  As  the  days 
of  a  tree  are  the  days  of  my  people,  and  they 
shall  long  enjoy  the  work  of  their  hands. 
They  shall  not  labour  in  vain,  nor  bring 
forth  for  trouble,  for  they  are  the  seed  of  the 
blessed  of  the  Lord,  and  their  children  with 
them."* 

A  few  years  ago  there  met  upon  the  plat- 
form of  one  of  our  great  benevolent  societies, 
on  an  anniversary,  a.  grandson  of  Isabella 
Graham,  and  a  grandson  of  John  Brown  of 
Haddington,  both  warm  in  aid  of  the  blessed 
cause,  and  both  eminent  ministers  of  the 
gospel,  though  in  different  hemispheres.  A 
Christian  lady,  whose  "  works  praise  her  in 
the  gates,"  and  whom  the  author  is  thankful 
to  number  among  his  flock,  sent  up  to  the 
treasurer  a  billet  enclosing  her  contribution, 
and  marked  with  these  words :  "  As  for  me, 
this  is  my  covenant  with  them,  saith  the 
Lord  ;  My  Spirit  that  is  upon  thee,  and  my 
words*  which  I  have  put  in  thy  mouth,  shall 
not  depart  out  of  thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the 

*  Isaiah  lxv.  22. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  183 

mouth  of  thy  seed,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of 
thy  seed's  seed,  saith  the  Lord,  from  hence- 
forth and  forever.'  '* 

In  our  visions  of  good  for  our  beloved  land, 
we  look  upon  vast  tracts  of  yet  uninhabited 
country,  stretching  over  the  mountains  to 
the  Western  Ocean,  as  to  be  peopled  by  a 
mighty  nation,  such  as  the  world  has  never 
seen  comprehended  in  one  polity.  The  tri- 
bute of  many  kingdoms  is  pouring  its  tide 
of  population.  But  shall  it  be  Christian  or 
unchristian  ?  This  is  the  forming  period ;  and 
these  new  societies  are  taking  their  mould 
and  direction.  Public  means  of  instruction 
can  by  no  effort  keep  pace  with  the  colossal 
strides  of  population.  Yet  among  those  who 
migrate  to  these  unbroken  wastes,  there  are 
some  who  have  been  bred  in  the  school  of 
domestic  piety,  in  Europe  or  America.  What 
can  they  do  better*  for  their  children,  or 
better  for  their  country,  than  to  found  the 
"  church  in  the  house  ?"  In  the  absence  of 
other  means,  they  will  thus  be  leaving  the 
best  inheritance  to  their  children — one  that 
is  infinitely  better  than  gold  or  silver.  Five 
years  ago,  the  writer  of  these  lines  procured, 

*  Isaiah  lix.  21. 


184  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

at  the  clerk's  office  of  Charlotte  county  in 
Virginia,  a  certified  extract  from  the  last 
will  of  the  great  orator  and  patriot,  Patrick 
Henry.  It  is  in  these  words  :  "  This  is  all  the 
inheritance  I  can  give  to  my  dear  family : 
the  religion  of  Christ  can  give  them  one 
which  will  make  them  rich  indeed."  This 
is  the  provision  which  we  recommend  to  our 
brethren  in  new  countries  to  make  for  pos- 
terity. Colonies  and  settlements  founded  in 
prayer  will  have  a  blessing.  Those  who  emi- 
grate are  sometimes  more  concerned  about 
the  richness  of  the  soil  and  the  salubrity  of 
the  climate,  than  about  the  spiritual  advance- 
ment of  their  house.  Their  error  is  like  that 
of  Lot.*  The  young  race  grow  up  without 
a  sanctuary.  How  invaluable,  in  such  situa- 
tions, is  the  domestic  worship  !  It  may  go 
far  to  supply  the  public  ministration  of  the 
word  ;  it  will  certainly  draw  down  family 
blessings  from«the  Hearer  of  prayer ;  it  will 
make  itself  felt  in  coming  generations.  The 
God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  answers 
the  prayers  of  departed  saints,  who  still  "  live 
unto  him."f  Posterity  reaps  harvests  from 
seed  sown  in  the  tears  of  former  ages.     We 

*  Gen.  xiii.  10.  t  Luke  xx.  38. 


'    FAMILY-WORSHIP.  185 

are,  perhaps,  this  day  receiving  blessings  in 
.answer  to  the  prayers  of  our  forefathers, 
offered  in  the  glens  and  moors  of  the  old 
world.  There  is  encouragement  to  extend 
as  widely  as  possible  the  daily  supplications 
of  Christian  families. 

No  pious  heart  can  fail  to  be  transported 
at  the  prospect  of  a  whole  nation  of  praying 
houses.  It  is  possible  with  God.  It  is  a  con- 
summation worth  striving  for,  and  worth  a 
more  distinct,  energetic,  and  united  effort, 
than  the  church  has  yet  put  forth.  Every 
approximation  towards  it  should  be  hailed 
with  delight.  Every  church  court,  every 
pastor,  missionary,  and  ruling  elder,  every 
Sabbath-school  teacher,  and  colporteur,  out 
of  love  for  the  generation  to  come,  should 
make  the  establishment  of  Family- Worship 
an  object  of  separate  and  earnest  endeavour. 
Every  father  of  a  family  should  consider 
himself  as  charged  with  the  souls  of  those 
whom  he  hopes  to  leave  behind  him,  and  as 
contributing  to  the  future  propagation  of  the 
truth,  by  every  act  of  devotion  performed  in 
his  house.  "Wherever  he  has  a  tent,  God 
should  have  an  altar.  Every  professing 
Christian,  who  has  hitherto  lived  in  neglect 


186  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

of  this  great  duty  of  a  householder,  should 
repent,  and  humble  himself,  and  establish 
God's  service  at  his  fireside,  before  he  sleeps 
another  night  in  a  prayerless  dwelling.  Such 
resolutions,  efforts,  and  devotions,  will  do 
more  for  the  happiness  of  that  exceeding 
great  multitude  of  future  Americans,  whom 
some  compute  at  a  hundred  millions  of  souls, 
than  all  the  accumulations  of  family  wealth, 
all  the  internal  improvements,  all  the  legisla- 
tion of  States  and  of  the  Union,  and  all  the 
schemes  of  general  education.  We  cannot 
close  our  eyes  to  the  dangers  which  threaten 
our  country,  from  an  augmentation  of  the 
people,  without  a  corresponding  growTth  of 
piety.  The  church  must  lose  its  vital  warmth 
and  power,  unless  some  new  impulse  be  given 
from  within,  and  among  the  means  for  en- 
kindling this  central  fire,  wre  reckon  Family- 
Worship  to  be  not  the  least.  In  the  conflict 
of  our  hopes  and  fears,  we  think  we  descry 
a  ray  of  brightness  in  the  expectation  that 
Christ's  people  will  awake  to  consider  the 
power  of  an  instrumentality  which  is  within 
their  very  doors  ;  which  operates  directly  on 
the  objects  of  their  most  tender  love;  which 
will  be  carried  down  the  stream  of  time  by 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  187 

their  increasing  progeny  ;  which  will  bless 
the  race  which  is  unborn ;  and  which  wTill 
still  subsist  in  its  triumphant  vigour  when 
the  Lord  shall  come.     The  treasure  in  our 
hands  has  been  conveyed  to  us  from  those 
who  were  our  fathers  according  to  the  flesh. 
It  was  coeval  with  the  Reformation ;  it  was 
held  dear  by  our  suffering  ancestors,  in  the 
British  isles;  it  was  delivered  over  by  con- 
fessors and  martyrs  to  their  children  ;  it  is  in 
its  very  nature  fit  for  transmission;  it  must 
not  perish  in  our  charge.     No  !  with  the  help 
of  the  Lord,  we  w7ill  convey  his  testimonies, 
and  the  record  of  his  mighty  deeds,  to  our 
offspring.     "  We  will  not   hide   them  from 
their  children,  showing  to  the  generation  to 
come  the  praises  of  the  Lord,  and  his  strength, 
and  his  wonderful  works  that  he  hath  done ; 
that  the   generation   to   come   might   know 
them,  even  the   children  which  should   be 
born,  who  should  arise  and  declare  them  to 
their  children,  that  they  might  set  their  hope 
in  God,  and  not  forget  the  works  of  God,  but 
keep  his  commandments."* 

A  new  dignity  shines  around  the  simple 
daily  worship  of  the  lowliest  Christian  cot- 

*  Psalm  lxxviii.  4,  6,  7. 


1 88  FAMTL  Y-WORSHIP. 

tage,  when  we  regard  it  as  one  of  the  most 
direct  means  for  perpetuating  the  love  and 
service  of  God,  through  our  descendants,  to 
the  whole  land,  and  the  universal  race  of 
man.  Afflicted  and  tempest-tossed  Zion  has 
this  word  of  reviving  promise  :  "All  thy  chil- 
dren shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  great 
shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children."* 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

PRACTICAL    DIRECTIONS    AS    TO    THE    MODE    OP    CON- 
DUCTING   FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

To  one  who  is  conscientiously  resolved  to 
honour  God  in  his  household,  a  clear  concep- 
tion of  the  duty  itself,  and  some  method  in 
the  observance  of  it,  are  indispensable. 

The  very  first  question  which  offers  itself, 
is,  By  whom  is  this  service  to  be  rendered  ? 
To  this  the  name  is  a  reply :  It  is  Family- 
Worship.  All  the  dwellers  in  one  house. 
More  particularly  the  parents,  the  children, 
or  such  as  occupy  the  children's  place,  as 

*  Isaiah  liv.  13. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  1 89 

wards,  pupils,  apprentices ;  the  lodgers,  and 
other  inmates;  the  guests  and  sojourners;  and 
the  servants. 

The  duty  of  masters  has  been  already  ex- 
plained. Let  it  suffice  here  to  say,  that  every 
Christian  householder  should  acknowledge 
his  solemn  obligation  to  extend  the  blessings 
of  domestic  religion  to  his  servants,  as  much 
as  to  his  children.  All  proper  means  should 
be  used  to  secure  the  attendance  of  every 
individual  engaged  in  the  labour  of  the  fam- 
ily, even  if  this  should  render  it  needful  to 
sacrifice  some  momentary  convenience  in 
regard  to  meals  and  other  arrangements. 
The  beauty  of  this  service  depends,  in  no 
small  degree,  on  the  presence  of  the  whole 
family.  The  reverse  of  this  is  too  common, 
and  there  are  houses,  where,  from  sloth  or 
irreligion,  some  members  habitually  absent 
themselves  from  the  prayers.  Even  in  board- 
ing-houses and  inns,  we  have  known  the 
most  happy  effects  to  flow  from  the  practice 
of  gathering  all  who  were  under  the  roof  at 
the  time  of  worship.  It  is  also  a  good  usage, 
to  proceed  with  the  accustomed  devotion, 
even  though  casual  visiters  may  be  present, 
17 


1 00  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Providence  may  thus  be  opening  a  door  for 
unexpected  influence. 

The  time  for  Family- Worship  demands 
our  consideration.  By  common  consent  the 
Christian  world  has  allotted  to  it  the  two 
seasons  of  morning  and  evening;  not  that 
there  is  any  virtue  in  this  number,  or  in 
these  seasons,  but  because  it  seems  just  and 
fit  to  place  our  acknowledgment  of  God  at 
these  natural  terms  of  our  working  day. 
There  have  been  those  who  have  found  edi- 
fication in  three  hours  of  prayer  :  "  Evening 
and  morning,  and  at  noon,  will  I  pray,  and 
cry  aloud,  and  he  shall  hear  my  voice."* 

That  which  is  most  important  in  regard  to 
the  time  of  Family-Worship,  is,  that  it  should 
be  fixed.  We  ascribe  great  value  to  this  par- 
ticular. It  adds  dignity  to  the  service,  by 
showing  that  it  is  not  to  give  wray  to  the 
changes  or  caprice  of  business  or  amuse- 
ment. It  saves  the  time  of  the  household ; 
and  it  tends  to  that  method  and  punctuality 
in  domestic  affairs,  which  is  a  chief  orna- 
ment of  a  Christian  house. 

Morning  Prayer  should,  in  our  humble 
judgment,  be  early  in  the  morning.     Here 

*  Psalm  lv.  17. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  191 

there  is  diversity  of  usage,  and  we  are  not  of 
those  who  wTould  impose  our  own  preferences 
on  others,  or  invent  any  ceremonial  yoke. 
But  we  have  noted  striking  advantages,  in 
observing  family  devotion  at  as  earhj  an 
hour  as  the  whole  household  can  be  assembled. 
There  is  a  Christian  decorum  in  resorting  to 
God  before  we  gather  around  the  table  of  his 
bounty.  The  refreshment  of  food  seems  to 
acquire  a  blessing;  "for  it  is  sanctified  by 
the  word  of  God,  and  prayer/'*  It  appears 
right  to  seek  food  for  the  soul,  before  we  seek 
food  for  the  body.  Otherwise  wre  lose  the 
delightful  feeling  of  having  begun  the  day 
with  God.  The  moment  of  repletion  from 
a  meal  is  of  all  others  the  least  comely  for  a 
solemn  approach  to  heaven.  Moreover,  by 
seizing  an  early  hour,  we  avoid  numerous 
interruptions,  and  that  sense  of  hurry  and 
impatience  which  attend  the  time  imme- 
diately preceding  the  forenoon's  business. 
All  these  reasons  may,  however,  be  control- 
led by  considerations  of  health  and  business, 
and  every  man  must  be  left  to  his  own  judg- 
ment. 

Evening  Prayer  is,  of  course,  the  closing 

*  1  Tim.  iv.  5. 


1  92  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

domestic  service.  Hence  it  has  been  the  pre- 
valent custom  to  make  it  the  last  thing  before 
retiring  for  the  night,  and  there  is  certainly 
something  beautiful  in  the  arrangement.  In 
many  houses  it  is  the  only  time  which  can 
be  secured.  Yet  it  must  be  acknowledged 
that  there  is  a  practical  difficulty  connected 
with  this ;  and  Family-Worship  may  be  too 
late  for  those  who,  agreeably  to  our  view  of 
the  subject,  are  principally  concerned,  to 
wit,  servants,  and  especially  children.  The 
younger  members  of  a  family  are  apt  to  be 
unfit  for  the  service,  as  being  overcome  with 
sleep;  and  it  is  scarcely  just  that  they  should 
be  robbed  of  one  half  of  domestic  prayer,  as 
they  must  be,  if  they  retire  at  an  early  hour. 
Even  adults  are  often  disqualified  for  enjoy- 
ing the  work  of  praise,  by  the  weariness  and 
stupor  consequent  on  a  long  day  of  toil. 
Hence  some  have  thought  they  found  an  ad- 
vantage in  calling  together  the  family  imme- 
diately before,  or  immediately  after  the  even- 
ing-meal. It  is  a  laudable  method  ;  but,  here, 
as  in  all  things  connected  with  form,  we  would 
ask  and  give  the  largest  liberty,  only  "  let  all 
*hings  be  done  decently,  and  in  order."* 

*  1  Cor.  xiv.  40. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  193 

The  person,  whose  office  it  is  to  lead  in 
Family-Worship,  is  undoubtedly  the  head  of  m 
the  household.  The  father  is  here  in  his 
proper  place,  as  the  prophet  and  patriarch  of 
his  little  State.  In  the  occasional  absence  of 
the  father,  or  in  the  lamented  event  of  his 
removal,  Providence  has  devolved  this,  with 
all  other  parental  trusts,  on  the  solitary,  or 
the  widowed  mother.  And  though  it  brings 
with  it  a  keen  trial  to  diffidence  and  femi- 
nine reserve,  it  is  also  eminently  amiable  and 
touching ;  and  dutiful  sons  will  make  every 
sacrifice  in  order  to  lessen  the  burdens  of  the 
maternal  heart,  when  engaged  in  such  a 
duty.  The  parent  may  sometimes  see  cause 
to  depute  this  office  to  a  son  or  brother,  when 
the  latter,  from  education,  gifts,  or  graces,  is 
qualified  to  take  his  part  with  edification. 
In  a  house  which  is  so  happy  as  to  comprise 
several  such  persons,  rotation  in  the  service 
may  be  allowed ;  always  reserving  to  the 
father,  or  head,  his  prerogative  and  responsi- 
bility of  direction. 

The  constituent  parts  of  Family- Worship, 
when  fully  observed,  are,  first,  the  reading 
of  the  Scriptures ;  secondly,  the  singing  of 
praise   to  God;  "and,  thirdly,  prayer;    and 

17* 


1 94  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

these  may  very  properly  follow  each  other  in 
this  order.  But  we  propose  to  enlarge  on 
these  particulars  below. 

The  length  of  the  domestic  service  is  wor- 
thy of  attention.  It  was  the  fault  of  our  fore- 
fathers to  make  it  insufferably  long.  This 
goes  far  to  destroy  all  good  influence  on  the 
young,  by  creating  weariness  and  disgust. 
"  It  is  difficult,"  says  Cecil,  "  to  fix  and  quiet 
your  family.  The  servants  are  eager  to  be 
gone,  to  do  something  in  hand.  There  has 
been  some  disagreement,  perhaps,  between 
them  and  their  mistress.  We  must  seize  op- 
portunities. We  must  not  drive  hard  at  such 
times  as  these.  Religion  should  be  prudent- 
ly brought  before  a  family.  The  old  Dis- 
senters wearied  their  families.  Jacob  rea- 
soned well  with  Esau,  about  the  tenderness 
of  his  children,  and  his  flocks,  and  herds. 
Something  gentle,  quiet,  moderate,  should 
be  our  aim."* 

The  manner  and  spirit  of  the  service 
should  never  be  neglected.  In  every  part  it 
should  be  solemn,  and  fitted  to  repress  all 
levity.  Of  course,  every  secular  task  or 
amusement  will  be  suspended,  and  absolute 

*  Cecil's  Remains. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  195 

silence  and  quiet  will  be  enforced,  even  in 
the  case  of  the  youngest  children,  who  there- 
by gain  a  most  important  lesson.  The  great- 
est simplicity  should  characterize  every  word, 
and  every  petition.  Those  who  have  the  great- 
est interest  in  the  worship,  are  often  little 
more  than  babes.  But  we  would  especially 
recommend  a  holy  animation,  as  that  wThich 
will  arrest  attention,  and  make  way  for  plea- 
sant memories.  Here  again  we  avail  our- 
selves of  the  language  of  the  Rev.  Richard 
Cecil.  Speaking  of  children  and  servants, 
he  says :  "  Tediousness  will  weary  them. 
Fine  language  will  shoot  above  them.  For- 
mality of  connexion,  or  composition  in  prayer, 
they  will  not  comprehend.  Gloominess,  or 
austerity  of  devotion,  wrill  make  them  think 
it  a  hard  service.  Let  them  be  met  with 
smiles.  Let  them  be  met  as  friends.  Let 
them  be  met  as  for  the  most  delightful  ser- 
vice in  which  they  can  be  engaged.  Let 
them  find  it  short,  savoury,  simple,  plain, 
tender,  heavenly.  I  find  it  easy  to  keep  the 
attention  of  a  congregation,  compared  with 
that  of  my  family. " 

Prayer  is  the  essential  part  of  Family- 
Worship,  and  therefore  merits  the  first  place 


196  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

in  our  consideration.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
enlarge  on  those  things  which  are  common 
to  all  acts  of  prayer ;  these  belong  to  another 
subject.  That  which  concerns  us  is  family 
prayer.  This,  its  distinguishing  character, 
ought  never  to  be  out  of  sight.  It  is  the 
worship  of  those  wTho  are  joined  together  by 
Providence  as  dwellers  in  the  same  house, 
and  wTho  now  come  to  the  throne  of  grace  in 
their  family  capacity.  This  will  give  a  tinge 
to  the  whole  service,  where  it  is  conducted 
with  life  and  discrimination.  Many  things 
may  be  proper  here,  which  would  be  out  of 
place  in  a  promiscuous,  assembly,  or  even  a 
small  meeting.  There  is  no  domestic  want, 
danger,  sorrow,  or  dispensation,  which  may 
not  be  remembered.  Special  cases  in  the 
household,  will  be  faithfully  and  affectionate- 
ly commended  to  God,  but  without  that 
rudeness  and  irreverence  with  wThich  we 
have  known  vulgar  minds  to  drag  forward 
the  circumstances,  and  even  names  of  shrink- 
ing individuals.  But  our  Heavenly  Father 
permits  us  to  spread  before  him  our  minutest 
trials,  and  this  is  one  of  the  principal  bless- 
ings of  domestic  religion. 

What  has  been  said  of  brevity,  applies 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  197 

especially  to  prayer,  as  a  part  of  Family- 
Worship.  Few  things  are  more  hardening 
and  deadening  in  their  influence,  than  the 
daily  recurrence  of  long  and  unawakening 
prayers.  For  these  there  is  no  necessity. 
For,  while  family-prayer  includes  petitions 
for  blessings  far  more  wide  than  those  of  the 
family  alone,  it  may  be  comprised  within 
easy  limits  ;  and  nothing  will  so  much  tend 
to  this  as  earnestness  and  directness  in  sup- 
plication. The  prayer  should  be  by  all  means 
simple  and  intelligible ;  free  from  hard  words 
and  involved  periods ;  because  he  who  leads 
is  putting  words  into  the  mouths  of  children. 
The  best  model  is  found  in  the  brief  and 
childlike  petitions  which  we  find  in  the 
Psalms,  and  other  parts  of  Scripture. 

Family-prayer  should  be  varied,  other- 
wise the  inevitable  result  will  be  formalism 
and  tediousness.  Indeed  the  snare  into  which 
we  are  most  prone  to  fall,  in  this  service,  is 
that  of  sameness  and  routine.  Daily  changes 
in  the  condition  of  a  family  will  infallibly 
work  a  corresponding  change  in  the  prayers, 
if  they  be  sincere.  Nothing  will  really  se- 
cure this  needful  quality,  but  the  "  spirit  of 
grace  and  of  supplications,"  shed  down  from 


198  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

on  high,  which  should,  therefore,  be  most 
earnestly  sought  by  every  head  of  a  house- 
hold, with  reference  to  this  daily  service ;  for 
which  purpose  no  preparation  can  be  so  valu- 
able, as  attendance  on  the  previous  devotions 
of  the  closet. 

The  question  has  been  much  agitated, 
whether  any  forms  of  prayer  should  be  re- 
commended as  a  help  to  family-devotion. 
The  spirit  of  our  church  institutions,  and  our 
perpetual  testimony,  has  been  against  the 
imposition  of  any  prescribed  form,  and  in 
favour  of  entire  liberty  in  prayer.  We  are 
fully  persuaded  that  the  best  of  all  prayers 
in  the  family,  as  every  where  else,  are  those 
which  proceed,  without  book,  from  hearts 
which  "  God  hath  touched.''  And  our  un- 
hesitating counsel  to  every  one  who  essays 
this  duty,  is,  that  he  cast  himself  upon  the 
help  of  the  Spirit,  without  any  written  form. 
Nevertheless,  we  are  so  earnestly  desirous  to 
remove  every  hinderance  out  of  the  way 
even  of  halting  believers,  that  we  would  in- 
finitely rather  they  should  pray  with  a  form, 
than  that  they  should  not  pray  at  all.  There 
are  also  persons  of  such  diffidence,  especially 
of  the  female  sex,  or  in  so  peculiar  a  con- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  199 

dition  of  society,  that  they  feel  themselves 
utterly  unable  to  proceed  without  such  assist- 
ance. Let  such  go  forward,  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.*  Let  them  provide  themselves 
with  some  suitable  volume  of  Family-Prayers. 
Such  have  been  furnished  by  Jenks,  Thorn- 
ton, Hardman,  and  others.  The  work  of  Mr. 
Jenks  is  by  far  superior  to  any  thing  known 
to  us  of  this  sort,  being  warm,  orthodox,  and 
scriptural,  and  imbued  from  beginning  to 
end  with  evangelical  sentiments.!  But,  in 
the  use  of  this,  or  any  other  form,  the  great- 
est caution  is  necessary,  in  order  to  guard 
against  that  ritual  coldness  and  emptiness 
which  come  from  the  abuse  of  the  best  devo- 
tional compositions. 

If  we  had  not  known  cases  where  such  a 

*  "  The  Book  of  Common  Order,"  often  called  "John  Knox's 
Liturgy,"  contains  a  "  Form  of  Prayers,  to  be  used  in  private 
houses  every  morning  and  evening." 

f  "Prayers  and  Offices  of  Devotion  for  Families,  and  for  par- 
ticular persons,  upon  most  occasions.  By  Benjamin  Jenks, 
late  rector  of  Harley,  &c.  Altered  and  improved  by  the  Rev. 
Charles  Simeon,  late  Fellow  of  King's  College,  Cambridge." 
About  forty  editions  of  this  work  have  been  published ;  and 
Mr.  Simeon  well  says :  "  Its  distinguishing  excellency  is,  that 
far  the  greater  part  of  the  prayers  appear  to  have  been  prayed 
and  not  written." 

[WIFHRSITrl 


200  FAMILY- WORSHIP. 

counsel  was  needful,  we  should  scarcely  add, 
that  the  true  posture  for  family-prayer  is  that 
of  kneeling. 

It  only  remains  to  be  observed,  that  if  the 
father  of  a  family  would  make  this  service 
one  of  the  greatest  advantage,  he  must  deem 
it  worthy  of  being  in  his  thoughts  at  mo- 
ments when  he  is  not  actually  engaged  in  it. 
He  will  seek  to  keep  his  mind  in  such  a 
frame  as  not  to  unfit  him  for  leading  his 
children  to  God.  He  will  look  to  his  steps, 
lest  his  example  should  be  in  disastrous  con- 
trast with  his  devotional  acts.  And  he  will 
not  consider  it  unimportant,  to  seek  from 
God  special  direction  and  strength  for  the 
discharge  of  a  duty  so  nearly  connected  with 
the  everlasting  interests  of  his  house. 

Where  any  one  feels  himself  called  of  God 
to  establish  daily  worship  in  his  house,  he 
should  act  with  solemn  decision.  In  this,  as 
in  a  thousand  other  affairs  of  life,  the  shortest 
method  is  the  best.  Instead  of  parleying 
with  objections,  or  waiting  for  some  happy 
conjuncture,  or  seeking  to  prepare  the  way 
by  gradual  approaches,  or  timorously  sound- 
ing the  opinions  of  those  whose  place  it  is  to 
submit,  let  him,  in  reliance  on  God,  without 


FAMILY-WOHSIIIP.  201 

other  preliminary,  and  without  allowing  an- 
other sun  to  set,  call  his  family  together, 
state  his  purpose  in  the  very  fewest  terms, 
and  carry  it  into  immediate  accomplishment. 
The  burden  of  months,  or  years,  will  have 
rolled  away  !  That  day  will  be  remembered 
as  one  of  the  brightest  in  his  calendar,  and 
will  probably  open  a  new  era  of  domestic 
profit  and  joy. 

If  this  book  should  fall  into  the  hands  of 
young  persons  and  others,  who  live  in  fami- 
lies where  God  is  daily  worshipped,  let  them 
be  affectionately  exhorted  to  yield  all  possi- 
ble encouragement  to  the  service,  by  punc- 
tual attendance,  by  the  most  reverent  atten- 
tion and  devout  silence,  and  above  all  by 
heartily  joining  in  the  devotions,  so  that  the 
words  spoken  or  sung  may  convey  the  sen- 
timents of  their  own  hearts.  This  is  espe- 
cially to  be  urged  on.  the  children  of  the 
church,  who  ought  to  remember  that  in  this 
service,  their  honoured  parents  are  endea- 
vouring, often  with  a  deep  sense  of  unwor- 
thiness,  to  discharge  a  part  of  the  obligations 
which  were  recognized  at  the  baptism  of 
their  children.  Many,  however,  are  the  in- 
stances, in  which  a  father,  advanced  in  years, 


202  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

needing  repose,  and  trembling  in  voice  and 
every  limb,  is  left  to  wait  till  a  late  hour  of 
night,  for  froward  and  profane  sons,  who,  if 
the  truth  were  known,  would  gladly  come  in 
at  midnight,  rather  than  be  constrained  to 
join  in  prayer.  Let  it  be  added,  in  conclu- 
sion, that  filial  affection  will  certainly  lead  the 
ingenuous  son  or  daughter  to  repress  every 
feeling  of  weariness  or  dissatisfaction,  in  re- 
gard to  the  manner  in  which  a  parent  con- 
ducts the  worship  of  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  READING  OF  SCRIPTURE  AS  A  PART  OF  FAMILY* 
WORSHIP. 

The  reading  of  the  wTord  of  God  in  the  daily 
service  of  the  house  seems  entitled  to  a  brief 
separate  consideration.  But  after  having 
already  given  such  extent  to  our  discussion, 
we  may  be  allowed  to  omit  many  of  those 
remarks,  however  important,  which  relate  to 
Bible-reading  in  general,  and  which  should 
be  sought  in  other  books.     The  daily  read- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  203 

ing  of  Scripture  is  a  solemn  and  indispensa- 
ble part  of  Family-Worship ;  one  which  we 
cannot  consent  to  see  omitted  in  any  case. 
To  do  so,  under  pretext  of  saving  time,  or 
for  any  other  reason,  except  in  extreme  occa- 
sions, is  a  wrong  done  to  the  household.  The 
greatest  misapprehensions  prevail  in  regard 
to  the  extent  of  knowledge  thus  communi- 
cated. If  a  man  had  no  other  information  of 
God's  will  than  that  which  was  conveyed  by 
hearing  a  portion  read,  twice  a  day,  all  his 
life,  he  might  nevertheless  acquire,  not  mere- 
ly the  sum  of  saving  truth,  for  his  own  soul's 
welfare,  but  a  body  of  invaluable  Christian 
instruction.  But  when  we  consider  it  as  so 
much  added  to  all  other  means  of  knowledge, 
we  ought  to  admit  that  the  agency  is  one 
too  potent  to  be  neglected.  In  every  family, 
there  are  those  who  daily  hear,  who  yet  have 
no  ability,  or  no  willingness  to  read.  To 
some,  this  is  the  only  means  of  acquaintance 
with  God's  word.  To  all,  it  brings  that 
word  before  the  mind  under  the  most  favour- 
able circumstances.  Truth  is  thus  gently 
pressed  upon  the  heart  of  infancy  and  youth, 
at  a  time  when  that  heart  is  most  ductile, 
and  wThen  it  takes  its  most  lasting  mould.    If 


204  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

we  ask  ourselves  what  are  our  earliest  recol- 
lections in  regard  to  the  Scriptures,  some  of 
us  will  have  to  answer,  that  they  are  of  inci* 
dents,  or  expressions,  heard  at  Family- Wor- 
ship. Much  more  than  is  commonly  thought 
is  actually  understood  by  children,  though 
not,  perhaps,  in  that  precise  order  which 
might  be  prescribed  by  pragmatical  reformers 
in  education.  There  is  an  absurd  rage  in 
some  for  making  juvenile  training  a  school 
of  perpetual  lexicography.  Children  may 
comprehend  many  a  paragraph,  without  be- 
ing able  to  "define"  every  word.  There  is 
such  a  thing  as  outline-knowledge,  which 
precedes  the  filling-up  of  details :  it  is  the 
method  of  nature;  it  is  the  way  in  which 
constant  hearing  of  the  word  informs  the 
infant  mind.  Even  the  high  points  of  the 
range  of  Christian  truth  may  cast  their  sha- 
dows over  the  child.  A  little  one  may  gain 
life-long  impressions  from  a  great  physical 
object,  as  from  Niagara,  or  the  Natural 
Bridge,  though  utterly  incompetent  to  de- 
scribe it;  but  not  less  truly  may  he  derive 
truth  from  a  great  event,  or  a  great  argu- 
ment of  Scripture,  though  unprepared  to 
stand  an  examination  on  it.     Besides,  there 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  205 

are  a  thousand  things  in  the  Bible,  which 
are  just  as  level  to  the  babe  as  to  the  philo- 
sopher. 

No  trifling  advantage  is  gained,  when  the 
mind  is,  from  infancy,  made  familiar  with 
the  phraseology  of  Scripture.  Persons  who 
have  been  religiously  educated  often  do  not 
know  how  much  there  is  in  these  venerated 
expressions,  which  carries  no  meaning,  or 
conveys  strange  associations,  to  such  as  have 
not  learned  them  in  youth.  Such  an  evil  is 
effectually  prevented  by  family  reading  of 
the  word.  The  acquaintance  of  Scottish  pea- 
sants with  the  text  of  inspiration  is  prover- 
bial, and  it  is  a  noble  foundation  for  that 
structure  which  is  to  be  carried  up  by  sub- 
sequent labours.  The  word  of  God  is  quite 
a  different  book  to  him  who  can  recall  no 
day  in  which  he  did  not  heai  it  read;  as 
each  of  us  may  assure  himselt,  by.  reflecting 
on  the  emotions  raised  within  him  by  that 
single  term,  the  family-bible. 

When  it  is  asked,  how  much  of  the  Scrip- 
ture is  to  be  read  in  Family-Worship,  we 
reply,  the  whole  Bible.  Not  that  any  Judaic 
superstition  should  be  allowed  to  creep  in,  as 
though  we  were  bound  to  refuse  all  selection, 

18* 


206  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

or  to  persevere  through  whole  chapters  of 
proper  names  and  genealogies.  Still,  in  ge- 
neral terms,  we  would  say,  the  whole  Bible. 
And  we  prefer  a  leaning  to  the  side  of  those 
who  make  no  omissions,  rather  than  to  the 
fastidiousness  which  would  exclude  large 
portions  of  the  record. 

The  order  in  which  Scripture  should  be 
read  in  Family-Worship,  may  safely  be  left 
to  that  wisdom  which  "is  profitable  to  direct." 
It  is  a  wholesome  rule  which  prescribes  the 
New  Testament  for  the  morning,  and  the 
Old  Testament  for  the  evening,  and  which 
goes  through  these  in  regular  order,  with 
such  variations  as  circumstances  and  provi- 
dential tokens  may  indicate.  At  least  one 
chapter  may  be  read  at  one  time,  carefully 
observing,  that  the  existing  division  of  chap- 
ters is  a  human  arrangement,  and  that  it 
often  breaks  the  current  .of  discourse.  We 
are  not  ignorant  of  the  numerous  plans,  such 
as  that  of  the  late  Mr.  McCheyne,  for  com- 
pleting the  whole  Bible  in  a  single  twelve- 
month. But  after  trial  and  reflection,  we  are 
disposed  to  regard  them  all  as  attributing  an 
undue  importance  to  the  compassing  of  this 
work  in  the  exact  term  of  a  calendar  year; 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  207 

and  we  choose  rather  to  leave  this,  with 
many  similar  details,  to  the  discretion  of  the 
"  wise  householder."* 

The  judgment  of  such  a  man  as  Philip 
Henry,  in  regard  to  the  order  of  reading,  is 
worthy  of  record.  "  He  advised  the  reading 
of  the  Scripture  in  order;  for  though  one 
star  in  the  firmament  of  the  Scripture  differ 
from  another  star  in  glory,  yet  wherever  God 
hath  a  mouth  to  speak,  we  should  have  an 
ear  to  hear;  and  the  diligent  searcher  may 
find  much  excellent  matter  in  those  parts  of 
Scripture  which  we  are  sometimes  tempted 
to  think  might  have  been  spared.  How  affec- 
tionately would  he  sometimes  bless  God  for 
every  book,  and  chapter,  and  verse,  and  line 
in  the  Bible. "f  To  this  we  may  add  the 
testimony  of  Mr.  Cecil :  "  I  read  the  Scrip- 
tures to  my  family  in  some  regular  order, 
and  am  pleased  to  have  thus  a  lesson  found 
for  me.  I  look  on  the  chapter  of  the  day  as 
a  lesson  sent  for  that  day ;  and  so  I  regard  it 
as  coming  from  God  for  the  use  of  that  day, 
and  not  of  my  own  seeking.'7  J 

*  Luke  xii.  42. 

f  Life  of    Philip   Henry,    p.   87,   edition   of  the  Presby- 
terian Board  of  Publication. 
|  Cecil's  Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  337. 


208  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

How  far  the  portion  of  Scripture  which  is 
read  shall  be  expounded,  must  depend  on 
the  gifts  of  the  officiating  person,  and  the  cir- 
cumstances and  character  of  his  family.  The 
all-important  thing  undoubtedly  is  the  word 
of  revelation.  Yet  it  is  good  to  have  every 
thing  which  may  render  this  more  plain,  or 
carry  it  to  the  heart.  Situated  as  most  fami- 
lies are,  the  continuous  reading  of  an  entire 
commentary  is  scarcely  to  be  thought  of. 
Great  profit  has,  however,  been  derived  from 
skilful  selections  from  such  works  as  Scott's 
Notes,  Matthew  Henry's  Exposition,  the 
humbler  works  of  Burkitt,  Ostervald,  and 
Brown,  Doddridge's  Expositor,  and  Home 
on  the  Psalms.  The  author  of  "  Line  upon 
Line,"  has  produced  a  convenient  manual  of 
select  passages,  with  comments,  for  this  very 
purpose,  entitled,  "  Light  in  the  Dwelling." 
Other  books,  not  commentaries,  may  be  occa- 
sionally used  in  short  portions,  such  as  Jay's 
"  Morning  and  Evening  Exercises,"  Ma- 
son's "  Spiritual  Treasury,"  and  Hawker's 
"Poor  Man's  Morning  Portion."  On  the 
Lord's-day,  where  there  is  no  public  wor- 
ship, it  is  exceedingly  to  be  desired  that 
Christian  families  should  add  to  their  usual 


FAMILY-WORSHIP,  209 

* 

service  the  reading  of  a  good  sermon :  it 
would,  above  all  things  else,  make  up  for  the 
lack  of  more  stated  ordinances. 

Oral  exposition,  by  the  father  of  the  fam- 
ily, is  a  more  difficult  work,  and  should  not 
be  attempted  without  due  consideration.  It 
is  certainly  desirable,  that  a  passing  remark 
should  now  and  then  be  thrown  in,  to  explain 
a  hard  word,  prevent  a  misconception,  or 
apply  a  divine  sentence  to  the  heart.  "  I 
make  no  formal  comment  on  the  Scripture,'7 
says  Mr.  Cecil,  "  but  when  any  striking  event 
or  sentiment  arises,  I  say,  Mark  that !  see 
how  God  judges  of  that  thing !  Sometimes 
I  ask  what  they  think  of  the  matter,  and 
how  such  a  thing  strikes  them."  A  suitable 
pause,  after  some  remarkable  passage,  is  often 
itself  a  comment.  The  father  may  often 
with  profit  select  a  verse  or  more,  from  the 
morning  lesson,  to  be  meditated  on,  or  com- 
mitted to  memory  during  the  day.* 

There  are  certain  persons,  who,  by  their 

*  From  the  notes  taken  on  domestic  expositions,  the  pious 
daughters  of  a  living-  minister  have  found  materials  for  a  pub- 
lished volume.  We  allude  to  "Family  Expositions  on  the 
Epistles  of  St.  John  and  St.  Jude.  By  the  Rev.  E.  Bickersteth, 
rector  of  Wotton,  Herts.     London,  1846. 


210  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

station,  or  their  gifts,  may  seem  called  upon 
to  enter  more  freely  than  others  upon  the 
work  of  exposition  :  and  here  we  would  again 
cite  Philip  Henry.  "  What  he  read  in  his 
family  he  always  expounded,  and  exhorted 
all  ministers  to  do  so,  as  an  excellent  means 
of  increasing  their  acquaintance  with  the 
Scriptures.  His  expositions  were  not  so 
much  critical  as  plain,  and  practical,  and  use- 
ful, and  such  as  tended  to  edification,  and  to 
answer  the  end  for  which  the  Scriptures 
were  written,  w^hich  is  to  make  us  wise  unto 
salvation.  And  herein  he  had  a  peculiar  ex- 
cellence, performing  that  daily  exercise  with 
so  much  judgment,  and  at  the  same  time 
with  such  facility  and  clearness,  as  if  every 
exposition  had  been  premeditated ;  and  very 
instructive  they  were,  as  well  as  affecting  to 
the  auditors.  He  often  admired  that  saying 
of  Tertullian's,  '  I  adore  the  fulness  of  the 
Scriptures ;'  and  sometimes  that,  '  Scriptura 
semper  habet  aliquid  relegentihus'  When 
sometimes  he  had  hit  upon  some  useful  ob- 
servation that  wTas  new  to  him,  he  would  say 
afterwards  to  those  about  him,  How  often 
have  I  read  this  chapter,  and  never  before 
now  took  notice  of  such  a  thing  in  it !     He 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  211 

put  his  children,  while  they  were  wTith  him, 
to  write  these  expositions ;  and  when  they 
wrere  gone  from  him,  the  strangers  that  so- 
journed with  him  did  the  same."* 

This  is  a  branch  of  the  subject  on  which 
we  do  not  use  any  urgency,  because  few 
have  the  gifts  of  Philip  Henry,  or  of  Cecil. 
There  are,  no  doubt,  many  men  who  would 
find  themselves  less  at  home  in  the  colloquial 
exposition  of  a  chapter,  than  in  a  laboured 
discourse.  While  few  things  are  better  than 
a  timely,  judicious  exposition,  nothing  can 
be  worse  than  the  opposite  abuse.  We  durst 
not  give  an  indiscriminate  exhortation  to  the 
duty,  lest  we  should  subject  some  poor  family 
to  the  infliction  of  tedious,  ignorant,  erro- 
neous, or  overheated  harangues,  under  the 
name  of  expounding  Scripture,  at  family- 
prayer.  But  where  a  Christian  parent  feels 
himself  called  to  engage  in  this  service,  with 
due  preparation,  and  reliance  on  God,  he  may 
look  for  blessed  results. 

The  manner  of  reading  the  Bible  in  the 
family  is  of  great  importance  Our  judg- 
ment is,  that  too  much  care  cannot  be  be- 
stowed on  this  point.     If  any  thing  should 

*  Life,  pp.  87,  88. 


'212  F  AMTL  Y-W0RSHTP. 

be  well  read,  it  is  God's  message.  Half  its 
meaning,  and  almost  all  its  effect,  are  some- 
times suffocated  and  lost,  by  a  sleepy,  mono- 
tonous, stupid,  careless,  inarticulate,  drawl- 
ing, or  what  is  worse,  an  affected  delivery. 

For  this  reason,  we  are  altogether  con- 
vinced that  the  portion  of  Scripture  should, 
in  general,  be  wholly  read  by  the  head  of  the 
family.  We  often  complain,  with  justice,  of 
the  interruption  of  the  sense,  occasioned  by 
the  breaking  up  of  the  passage  into  verses ; 
but  this  evil  is  made  tenfold  worse,  when 
each  verse  is  pronounced  by  a  different  per- 
son. However  the  mode  of  reading  in  rota- 
tion may  seem  to  awaken  attention,  it  is  clear- 
ly injurious  to  the  effect.  No  one  would  ever 
think  of  reading  any  secular  paragraph  of 
lively  interest,  such  as  a  letter,  or  news  from 
Europe,  in  this  manner.  It  gives  the  solemn 
service  too  much  the  air  of  a  school-lesson, 
with  all  the  worst  annoyances  of  the  school, 
such  as  the  spelling  out  of  words,  mispro- 
nunciation, and  mistakes,  losing  the  place, 
and  divers  mishaps  tending  to  the  ludicrous. 
The  solemn  service  of  God  should  not  be 
made  a  school-lesson.  Let  each  have  his 
book,  but  let  it  be  felt  that  the  Scriptures 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  213 

cannot  be  read  too  well,  by  the  best  reader  in 
the  house ;  and  there  is  a  propriety  in  having 
it  pronounced  with  all  solemnity  and  expres- 
sion, and  without  interruption,  by  him  who 
has  the  reverence  of  all  present.  Such  is 
our  decided  opinion,  which,  however,  we 
would  not  for  a  moment  seek  to  impose  as  a 
yoke  on  that  liberty  which  we  dearly  prize 
in  all  divine  service. 

It  is  so  far  from  being  a  matter  of  indiffer- 
ence, how,  or  by  whom,  the  Scriptures  shall 
be  read  in  Family-Worship,  that  particular 
care  should  be  bestowed  on  a  due  preparation 
for  this  work  by  every  head  of  a  family. 
Supposing  him  to  be  a  man  not  familiar  with 
every  part  of  the  Bible,  there  would  be 
nothing  amiss  in  his  reading  over  with  great 
attention,  in  private,  the  chapter  to  which  he 
is  about  to  attend  with  his  family.  No  one 
need  consider  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  make 
good  reading  his  special  study,  not  in  the 
way  of  rhetorical  rule  and  elocutionary  trick, 
(far  be  it  from  us  to  recommend  the  emptiest 
of  all  pretences!)  but  by  fully  understanding 
the  language,  and  deeply  entering  into  the 
spirit  of  the  passage.  At  the  fireside,  or  in 
the  pulpit,  this  will  do  more  than  all   the 

19 


214  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

orotund  mouthing,  and  "  start  theatric,  prac 
tised  at  the  glass."  It  has  often  been  assert 
ed,  that  the  reading  of  a  chapter,  by  the  late 
Dr.  John  M.  Mason,  was  as  good  as  another 
man's  exposition ;  and  we  have  heard  a  cler- 
gyman say,  that  he  would  walk  ten  miles 
to  hear  Dean  Kirwan  repeat  the  Lord's 
Prayer.  We  have  seldom  felt  the  power  of 
delivery  more,  than  in  hearing  Summer- 
field  rehearse  a  passage  of  Scripture,  with- 
out comment*  It  is  true,  we  cannot,  with 
all  our  study,  hope  to  be  Kirwans,  Masons, 
or  Summerfields,  but  we  may  keep  ourselves 
from  being  intolerably  bad.  From  the  acme 
of  their  elocution,  there  is  an  unbroken  de- 
scent, down  to  the  halting,  humdrum,  list- 
less, careless,  and  therefore  profane  manner, 
in  which  the  sacred  oracles  are  sometimes 
read  at  Family- Worship. 

Bible-distribution,  now  in  so  happy  a  pro- 
gress, should  lead  to  family  Bible-reading. 
Happy  would  be  our  nation,  if  every  house 
possessed,  not  only  the  volume,  but  this  use 
of  it.  It  is  not  enough  that  we  lay  the  volume 
at  every  man's  door.  We  do  not  claim  for  it 
the  virtue  of  a  charm,  or  a  talisman,  which 

*  It  was  2  Corinthians  vi.  1 — 12. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  215 

shall  save  him  who  lies  asleep.  Though  we 
strive  to  furnish  the  book,  it  is  not  the  mere 
furnishing  of  the  book  which  is  to  save  the 
world.  Yet  the  storehouse  of  medicine  is 
not  the  less  necessary,  because  some  will  not 
use  it.  It  is  the  book  in  which  all  have  a 
common  interest:  it  is  the  only  such  book." 
Since  the  great  efforts  made  during  our 
century  for  this  object,  certain  high-church 
mockers  have  sneered  at  an  alleged  supersti- 
tious adoration  of  the  Bible,  which  the  objec- 
tors have  been  pleased  to  name  Bibliolatry. 
They  have  declared,  that  the  word  of  God 
was  more  venerated,  and  sought  more  eager- 
ly, wThen  it  was  hard  to  reach,  and  when  the 
massive  folio  of  the  sixteenth  century  used 
to  be  chained  fast  to  a  pillar  in  some  English 
church.  Now,  while  we  acknowledge  that 
a  loaf  of  bread  is  more  valued  in  a  ship  on 
short  allowance,  or  in  the  famine  of  a  siege, 
than  on  the  tables  of  plenty,  we  are  not  the 
less  desirous  that  every  man  should  have  his 
loaf. 

We  bless  God  for  handing  dow^n  his  pre- 
cious w^ord,  not  only  by  the  church,  but  by 
the  family.  We  have  received  it  from  our 
fathers,  and  we  wrould  transmit  it  to  our  latest 


216  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

posterity.  Family-instruction  in  the  Scrip- 
tures goes  very  far  back:  "Thou  shalt  teach 
them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and  shalt 
talk  of  them,  when  thou  sittest  down,  and 
when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when 
thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up. 
And  thou  shalt  bind  them  for  a  sign  upon 
thy  hand,  and  they  shall  be  as  frontlets  be- 
tween thine  eyes.  And  thou  shalt  write  them 
upon  the  posts  of  thy  house,  and  on  thy 
gates."*  The  modern  Jews  resemble  the 
Papists  in  some  things,  but  they  have  never 
become  idolaters,  and  they  have  never  with- 
held the  word  of  God  from  the  laity.  It  has 
been  read  in  every  synagogue  for  centuries, 
and  is  so  read  to  this  hour :  it  is  read  in  every 
Hebrew  house  every  day.  It  is  our  hope, 
that  the  day  will  come  when  at  least  as 
much  as  this  may  be  said  of  Christians  all 
over  the  world.  Let  us  send  down  the  word 
of  God  to  our  descendants.  When  I  look  at 
the  folio  Bible  which  was  my  grandfather's, 
I  cannot  bear  the  thought  that  it  should  stop 
with  me.  Human  generations  change,  but 
God's  truth  abides.  "  For  all  flesh  is  grass, 
and  all  the  glory  of  man  is  like  the  flower  of 

*  Deuteronomy  vi. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  217 

grass:  the  grass  withereth,  and  the  flower 
thereof  falleth  away ;  but  the  word  of  the 
Lord  endureth  for  ever."*  This  is  the  word 
which  we  desire  may  be  read  in  the  houses 
of  our  offspring,  when  Christ  shall  appear. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

PSALMODY,   AS    A   PART    OP    FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Good  Mr.  Philip  Henry  used  to  say,  that 
the  singing  of  God's  people,  at  Family- 
Worship,  was  a  way  to  hold  forth  godliness 
to  such  as  pass  by  their  windows,  like  Ra- 
hab's  scarlet  thread.f  Sacred  song  is  an 
instituted  means  of  giving  expression  to 
every  high  religious  emotion.  It  has  been 
adopted  for  this  purpose  in  every  form  of 
religion  known  among  men.  Concerning  its 
fitness  for  this  end,  in  the  great  assembly, 
there  has  been  no  controversy  in  the  church. 
Never  was  the  glory  of  divine  song  more  ex- 
alted, than  in  the  ancient  temple  service.     It 

*  1  Peter  i.  25.  t  Josh.  ii.  17. 

10* 


218  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

was  at  once  admitted  into  the  primitive  as- 
semblies, and  has  prevailed  in  all  Christian 
churches.  "  In  singing  the  praises  of  God," 
says  the  Directory  for  Worship,  "  we  are  to 
sing  with  the  spirit,  and  with  the  under- 
standing also ;  making  melody  in  our  hearts 
unto  the  Lord.  It  is  also  proper  that  we 
cultivate  some  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  mu- 
sic, that  we  may  praise  God  in  a  becoming 
manner  with  our  voices,  as  well  as  with  our 
hearts."*  There  has  been  no  difference  of 
judgment  on  this  point,  in  any  of  the  reform- 
ed churches.  But  we  ask  attention  to  the 
assertion,  that  there  is  no  argument  for  sa- 
cred music  in  the  church,  which  does  not 
hold  equally  good  in  the  family.  Though 
this  part  of  the  service  has  fallen  out  of  the 
practice  of  many  households,  and  (strangely 
enough)  extensively  in  those  regions  where 
scientific  music  has  been  most  boastfully  cul- 
tivated, the  judgment  of  our  church  on  this 
subject  is  explicit :  "  It  is  the  duty  of  Chris- 
tians to  praise  God,  by  singing  psalms  or 
hymns,  publicly  in  the  church,  as  also  pri- 
vately in  the  family  "\     There  is  no  reason 

*  Chapter  iv.  \  2. 

f  Directory  for  Worship,  chap.  iv.  \  1. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  219 

for  one  which  is  not  a  reason  for  the  other. 
If  a  congregation  has  its  joys  and  other  ele- 
vated emotions,  so  has  a  family.  If  a  con- 
gregation has  cause  to  give  utterance  to  these 
with  "  the  voice  of  melody/'  so  has  a  family. 
If  a  congregation  has  voices  which  are  fitted 
for  this  work,  so  has  a  family.  In  truth, 
'what  is  a  family  but  a  domestic  congregation, 
or  "  church  in  the  house  ?" 

Domestic  psalmody  is  promotive  of  devo- 
tion. It  is  an  exercise  in  which  the  voices 
of  all  join  in  the  expression  of  sentiments 
which  should  be  experienced  by  all.  We 
trust  we  shall  not  be  called  upon  to  prove 
that  the  singing  of  God's  praise  is  eminently 
conducive  to  the  awakening  and  mainten- 
ance of  holy  affections,  and  that  it  has  been 
in  every  age  employed  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
for  this  purpose.  But  we  beg  consideration 
of  the  statement,  that  this  is  as  true  of  the 
family  as  of  the  church.  The  peculiar  exer- 
cises of  soul  which  belong  to  families,  as 
such,  find  expression  in  sacred  song,  no  less 
than  those  which  belong  to  public  assemblies. 
The  godly  sorrow,  the  trust,  the  adoration, 
the  thanks,  of  a  household,  seem  to  require 
this  channel  for  their  flow. 


220  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Psalmody  is  a  means  of  Christian  instruc- 
tion. In  the  early  church,  many  of  the 
hymns  were  compendious  formulas  of  doc- 
trine ;  and  such  has  been  the  case  in  every 
succeeding  age.  "  Let  the  word  of  Christ 
dwell  in  you  richly  in  all  wisdom,  teaching 
and  admonishing  one  another,  in  psalms  and 
hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  singing  wTith 
grace  in  your  hearts  to  the  Lord."*  In  this 
view,  it  is  wise  to  seize  upon  sacred  poetry 
as  a  means  of  fastening  truth  on  the  infant 
mind ;  and  the  daily  practice  of  the  family 
will,  beyond  any  thing  else,  familiarize  the 
young  with  the  choicest  spiritual  songs.  In 
order  that  this  may  take  place  most  fully, 
the  selection  should  be  careful,  and  the  num- 
ber of  hymns  so  used  should  not  be  too  large. 
Where  so  much  depends  on  repetition,  there 
may  be  an  inordinate  passion  for  variety. 
A  small  circle  of  well  adapted  psalms  and 
hymns  is  better  than  a  great  multitude,  and 
the  suggestion  derives  new  importance  from 
the  extraordinary  augmentation  of  our  stock 
of  religious  compositions  in  verse. 

The  happy  influence  of  spiritual  songs  is 
illustrated   in   the   early   churches   of  Ger- 

*  Col.  iii.  16. 


FAMILY-  WOR  SHIP.  22 1 

many.  Luther  was  himself  a  poet  and  a 
musician,  and  he  bestowed  on  his  country 
many  of  her  noblest  hymns,  and  some  of  her 
finest  melodies.  In  his  writings  he  often 
alludes  to  this  as  one  of  the  chosen  agencies 
in  the  work  of  Reformation;  and  this  not 
merely  in  the  church,  but  by  the  wayside, 
and  at  home.  He  relates  that,  in  the  earlier 
part  of  his  labours,  he  was  moved  to  tears  by 
hearing  a  wandering  beggar,  under  his  win- 
dow, sing  a  hymn,  which  has  since  become 
famous,  but  which  Luther  had  never  before 
heard.*  The  remarkable  cultivation  of  mu- 
sic among  the  United  Brethren,  is  only  the 
extension,  by  Zinzendorf,  of  this  attachment 
to  sacred  song,  which  was  encouraged  by 
Luther.  The  impress  still  remains.  Wher- 
ever you  meet  the  German  Christian,  you 
find  him  charged  with  those  noble  and  evan- 
gelical compositions.  Even  the  emigrant, 
in  his  blouse,  is  sure,  if  a  disciple,  to  carry 
across  the  sea  in  his  wallet,  the  black-covered 
hymn-book. 

The  same  thing  is  observable  among  our 
Presbyterian  forefathers,  and  their  descend- 

*  Paul  Speratus's  hymn,  "  (g$  iff  ba£  £cU  un$  femmcn." 


222  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

ants  in  Scotland  and  Ireland.  They  praised 
God  in  their  families.  Usually  having  the 
metrical  psalms  at  the  end  of  their  pocket- 
bibles,  they  were  familiar  with  them  from 
youth ;  and  they  held  them  in  more  reve- 
rence as  conceiving  them  to  be  a  literal  ver- 
sion of  the  word  of  God.  While  we  con- 
demn the  narrowness  of  that  prejudice  which 
would  debar  the  Church  of  God  from  naming 
the  name  of  Christ  in  public  praise,  and 
which  would  reject  all  New  Testament 
hymns,  we  cannot  shut  our  eyes  to  the  singu- 
lar influence  of  that  ancient  version;  though 
written  by  an  Englishman,  Francis  Rouse  or 
Rous,  it  has  become  almost  the  peculiar  trea- 
sure of  the  Scots,  and  is  still  used  in  the 
Kirk  of  Scotland,  and  the  Secession  bodies 
of  Britain  and  America. 

The  use  of  psalmody  in  Family-Worship 
we  believe  to  have  been  almost  universal  in 
the  old  Presbyterian  church  of  Scotland,  as 
it  has  been  laudably  kept  up  till  this  day. 
That  it  tended,  in  a  high  degree,  to  increase 
"the  interest  of  all  concerned  in  the  service, 
and  to  promote  Christian  knowledge,  and 
sound  piety,  we  cannot  for  a  moment  doubt. 
The  homely  old  version,  with  a  small  num- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  223 

ber  of  ancient  airs,  of  great  plainness,  seve- 
rity, and  sweetness,  some  of  which  still  lin- 
ger in  our  churches,  was  familiar  to  every 
man,  woman,  and  child.  The  favourite  poet 
of  Scotland  has  not  failed  to  seize  on  this 
trait  in  the  family  picture,  to  which,  there- 
fore, we  once  more  call  attention : 

"  They  chant  their  artless  notes  in  simple  guise, 

They  tune  their  hearts,  by  far  their  noblest  aim, 

Perhaps  Dundee's  wild  warbling  measures  rise, 
Or  plaintive  Martyrs,  worthy  of  the  name, 

Or  noble  Elgin  beats  the  heavenward  flame, 
The  sweetest  far  of  Scotia's  holy  lays. 

Compared  with  these  Italian  trills  are  tame ; 
The  tickled  ears  no  heartfelt  raptures  raise, 
Nae  unison  hae  they  with  our  Creator's  praise." 

The  Wesleyans  in  Great  Britain,  and  their 
Methodist  brethren  in  America,  have  be- 
yond all  others  done  justice  to  the  animating 
power  of  sacred  song,  in  public  and  in  the 
house,  and  we  may  learn  a  lesson  from  them. 
Differing  from  them  as  we  do,  in  several 
important  points,  we  shall,  nevertheless,  al- 
ways hold  ourselves  ready  to  give  them  just 
praise  for  the  Christian  vivacity  of  their  ser- 
vices ;  and  we  hazard  whatever  may  be  at 
stake  of  reputation  for  taste,  when  we  say, 
that,  after  some  opportunities  of  listening  to 


224  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

what  is  regarded  as  the  choicest  music  which 
has  come  to  us  from  abroad,  we  have  felt 
more  of  the  genuine  power  of  harmonious 
sounds,  when  the  voices  of  "the  great  con- 
gregation "  have  united  in  sending  up  a 
volume  of  song,  than  from  orchestral  clan- 
gour, or  the  artistic  combinations  of  "  stringed 
instruments  and  organs." 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  in  those  cir- 
cles of  the  religious  world  which  consider 
themselves  the  most  accomplished,  there  are 
many  families  where  sacred  music  receives 
no  separate  attention.  We  enter  the  saloons 
of  wealth,  professedly  consecrated  to  God, 
and  our  eyes  are  greeted  by  the  piano-forte, 
the  guitar,  the  organ,  or  the  harp,  and  by 
piles  of  complicated  and  fashionable  music. 
But  when  the  hour  tof  Family- Worship 
arrives,  no  hymn  of  praise  ascends  to  God. 
Those  cultivated  voices,  so  cunning  in  sol- 
feggio and  "  Italian  trills,"  are  dumb  for  all 
but  this  world's  song.  Our  Christian  daugh- 
ters, practising  for  hours  a  day  under  great 
masters  of  singing,  are  sometimes  unwilling 
to  lend  their  aid  even  in  the  house  of  God. 
We  solemnly  commend  this  subject  to  those 
who  preside  over  the  education  of  youth. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  225 

Some  are  ready  to  say  that  psalmody  can- 
not be  maintained  with  ease  in  domestic 
worship,  because  in  many  instances  a  majo- 
rity of  those  present  are  children.  It  is 
strange  that  this  objection  should  arise  at  the 
very  period  in  which,  above  all  that  have 
preceded,  juvenile  instruction  in  music  has 
been  pursued  with  success.  The  concurrent 
testimony  of  all  who  have  most  largely  ex- 
amined and  experimented  on  the  matter,  is, 
that  no  child  has  been  found,  (unless  in  case 
of  organic  defect,)  which  could  not  be  taught 
to  sing.  No  school,  of  the  higher  class,  ven- 
tures to  exclude  vocal  music  from  its  course 
of  study.  Not  a  word  need  be  said,  concern- 
ing this,  to  such  as  are  familiar  with  the  ex- 
traordinary labours  of  Mr.  Hastings,  or  have 
attended  the  public  exhibitions  of  Mr.  Brad- 
bury and  others,  in  some  of  which  no  less 
than  five  hundred  children  have  appeared  at 
once,  in  the  admirable  performance  of  the 
most  celebrated  compositions  of  the  great 
masters.  A  much  simpler  cultivation  would 
suffice  for  all  that  we  require. 

Family-Worship  affords  the  most  happy 
means  of  bringing  forward  infant  voices  in 
the  praise  of  God.    We  have  known  children 

20 


22G  FAMILY-WORSHIP 

who  joined,  without  false  intonation,  in  the 
family  psalm,  before  they  could  distinctly 
articulate  a  word.  It  is  almost  always  an 
attractive  and  delightful  part  of  the  worship, 
to  youthful  minds,  and  hence  contributes  to 
endear  the  household-meeting,  and  the  circle 
of  home.  Above  all,  it  makes  this  early  im- 
pression, that  the  voice  is  to  be  trained  for 
the  glory  of  God,  as  its  best  and  happiest 
office. 

The  use  of  psalmody  in  domestic  worship, 
tends  to  the  improvement  of  this  part  of  di- 
vine service  in  public.  We  may  push  the 
art  and  exquisite  harmony  of  choirs,  or  select 
companies,  to  any  degree  of  advancement, 
however  high,  yet  the  great  end  will  not  be 
attained,  until  we  secure  the  united  voices 
of  the  whole  congregation.  Every  method 
which  discourages  or  postpones  this,  howr- 
ever  agreeable  to  human  taste,  is  a  snare, 
which  should  be  deprecated.  So  long  as 
great  numbers,  in  the  body  of  a  church,  feel 
at  liberty  to  depute  this  part  of  religion  to 
others,  the  worship  of  God  is  abridged  of  its 
rightful  claim.  We  believe  that  the  revival 
of  psalmody  in  the  house,  would  contribute 
to  train  voices  for  the  sanctuary.     In  order 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  227 

to  have  this  effect,  it  should  not  be  left  to 
take  care  of  itself,  or  be  executed  in  a  care- 
less, random  way.  Some  pains  should  be 
taken  to  select  suitable  tunes,  and  to  make 
every  member  of  the  household  familiar  with 
them.  This  might  be  done  by  means  of  an 
occasional  hour  of  musical  instruction,  such 
as  is  implied  in  the  injunction  which  we 
have  already  cited  from  our  Directory.  But 
the  daily  exercise  itself  is  a  school  of  music ; 
and  we  have  never  known  a  family  in  which 
it  was  common,  that  did  not  attain  to  some 
excellence  in  this  department. 

Conscientious  regard  to  the  spiritual  as- 
pect of  divine  praise,  will  lead  him  who  pre- 
sides in  Family-Worship,  to  look  upon  the 
selection  of  appropriate  psalms  and  hymns, 
as  a  matter  of  great  importance.  He  will  not 
leave  it  to  accident,  but  from  the  ample  stores 
which  we  possess,  will  endeavour  to  choose 
such  as  may  both  be  level  to  the  capacity  of 
his  little  flock,  and  suited  to  carry  up  their 
hearts  directly  to  God.  These  sacred  com- 
positions, we  hope,  will  rest  in  the  memory 
of  our  children  when  we  shall  be  no  more 
with  them.  No  evil  can  arise  from  often 
recurring  to  the  same  hymns,  if  these  are  in 


228  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

themselves  excellent.  The  best  hymns  are 
those  which  are  oftenest  sung,  and  wThich 
every  one  knows  by  heart;  and  those  will 
have  the  largest  stock  in  remembrance  who 
have  praised  God  all  their  lives  at  home. 
We  do  not  understand  the  feelings  of  that 
man,  who  can  ever  weary  of  such  composi- 
tions as  those  which  begin  thus  :  "  My  God, 
my  life,  my  love," — "  Alas  !  and  did  my  Sa- 
viour bleed," — "  Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts," 
— "  Come  we,  who  love  the  Lord," — "  My 
God,  the  spring  of  all  my  joys," — "  When  I 
can  read  my  title  clear," — "  There  is  a  land 
of  pure  delight," — "  Plunged  in  a  gulf  of 
dark  despair," — "  The  Lord  my  Shepherd 
is," — "  Teach  me  the  measure  of  my  days," — 
"  When  overwhelmed  with  grief," — "  Lord 
of  the  worlds  above," — "  Sweet  is  the  work, 
my  God,  my  King."  Such  psalms  and 
hymns,  so  far  from  losing  by  repetition,  gain 
new  associations  day  by  day :  and  we  ven- 
ture to  assert,  that  they  are  sung  by  none  in 
the  house  of  God,  with  so  much  real  delight, 
as  by  the  aged  man  wTho  lays  aside  his  spec- 
tacles, because  the  psalm  has  been  known  to 
him  for  forty  years. 

No  religious  duty  can  be  conducted  aright 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  229 

unless  the  heart  be  in  it;  and  there  are  spe- 
cial reasons  why  the  thoughts  and  affections 
should  be  tempted  to  wander  in  the  singing 
of  God's  praise.  How  few,  even  in  the 
largest  worshipping  assemblies,  show,  by 
their  demeanour,  that  the  words  which  ar£ 
on  their  lips,  or  on  the  lips  of  their  substi- 
tutes in  the  work  of  praise,  are  addressed  to 
the  present,  and  heart-searching  Jehovah ! 
The  soul  may  be  entirely  taken  up  in  the 
secular  and  musical  part  of  the  psalmody. 
No  pains  can  be  too  great,  which  may  result 
in  the  awakening  of  solemn  consideration  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  join  in  singing  praise. 
Every  symptom  of  levity  should  be  repress- 
ed. An  occasional  remark,  if  solemnly  and 
appropriately  thrown  in,  before  engaging  in 
this  duty,  might  often  have  a  good  effect.  It 
is  an  offence  against  God,  to  address  him  in 
words  of  high  moment,  while,  perhaps,  we 
have  no  thought  of  their  meaning,  still  less 
any  sympathy  with  their  sentiment.  Each 
of  us  should  learn  to  say  with  sincerity,  "  I 
will  sing  with  the  spirit,  I  will  sing  with  the 
understanding  also."* 

It  wrould  be  a  peculiar   pleasure   to  the 

*  1  Cor.  xiv.  15. 
20* 


230  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

writer  of  these  lines,  if  he  could  know  that 
he  had  succeeded  in  bringing  the  vocal  praise 
of  God  into  the  daily  worship  of  even  a  sin- 
gle household.  Those  who  make  the  expe- 
riment, will  find  a  new  spring  of  delight 
gushing  out  under  the  domestic  vine  and 
fig-tree.  They  will  rejoice  in  a  fresh  sweet- 
ener of  their  toils  and  anxieties,  and  a  power- 
ful instrument  for  quieting  and  training  the 
souls  of  their  children.  It  is  mournful  to 
think,  that  a  service  which  was  so  precious 
to  our  ancestors,  and  which  they  made  sacri- 
fices to  enjoy,  even  when  under  the  sword  of 
persecution,  should  die  out  of  many  Chris- 
tian families  in  these  days  of  peace,  when 
there  is  no  lack  of  worldly  rejoicings,  "  and 
the  harp,  and  the  viol,  the  tabret,  and  pipe, 
and  wine,  are  in  their  feasts."*  There  may 
be  days  in  which  we  have  scarcely  the  heart 
to  sing,  by  reason  of  deep  anguish,  but  such 
are  not  the  days  of  most.  "  Is  any  merry  ? 
let  him  sing  psalms."f  Before  we  totally 
hush  the  voice  of  thanksgiving  in  our  taber- 
nacle, let  us  break  or  banish  the  instruments 
of  worldly  music.  No  law  can  be  laid  down 
for  those  who  have  not  the  control  of  their 

*  Isaiah  v.  12.  t  James  v.  13. 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  231 

own  time,  or  those  who,  after  every  effort, 
are  convinced  that  it  is  impossible  for  them 
to  sing  ;  but  we  would  advise  a  shortening 
of  the  other  services,  rather  than  the  total 
omission  of  this.  Such  as  have  abundance 
of  leisure  should  honour  God  by  the  psalm, 
and  "make  the  voice  of  his  praise  to  be 
heard."* 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE    HOUSEHOLDER    EXHORTED    TO    THE    DUTY    OF 
FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

Every  portion  of  what  has  preceded  has 
tended  to  the  single  point  of  inducing  the 
reader  to  maintain  the  worship  of  God  in  his 
house ;  but  it  is  desirable  to  make  the  appeal 
even  more  closely,  and  as  it  were,  personally, 
to  the  heart  and  conscience.  Laying  aside, 
therefore,  all  more  ceremonious  modes  of 
approach,  I  would  respectfully  and  affection- 

*  Psalm  lxvi.  8. 


232  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

ately  address  myself  to  the  individual  pro- 
fessor of  religion. 

You  are,  by  Providence,  set  at  the  head  of 
a  family,  to  support  it,  instruct  it,  guard  it. 
and  in  every  way  care  for  its  temporal  and 
eternal  good.  We  offer  to  you  a  simple 
means  of  contributing  to  the  greatest  of  these 
objects;  and  we  have,  at  some  length,  dwelt 
upon  its  excellencies  and  fruits.  Our  plea 
is  for  those  whom  you  love  the  best,  for  your 
own  flesh  and  blood.  No  human  language 
can  wTell  go  beyond  the  importance  of  the 
domestic  relation.  On  this  point  you  require 
no  prompting.  When  you  return  from  the 
toils  and  distractions  of  the  day,  and  sit  at 
home,  amidst  the  little  quiet  circle,  you  feel 
that  you  are  among  your  chief  wealth.  This 
is  your  treasure.  The  law  makes  it  your 
castle,  and  religion  may  make  it  your  sanc- 
tuary. As  your  eye  rests  on  the  wife  of 
your  bosom,  and  the  pledges  of  your  mutual 
love,  you  silently  give  thanks  to  God,  and 
sometimes  your  heart  overflows  in  earnest 
wishes  for  the  good  of  each  beloved  object. 
Withhold  not  a  single  defence  or  ornament 
from  that  Christian  home,  which  is  already 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  233 

the   source  of  so   many  virtues  and   enjoy- 
ments. 

u  Domestic  happiness,  thou  only  bliss 
Of  Paradise  that  has  survived  the  fall ! 
Though  few  now  taste  thee  unimpaired  and  pure, 
Or  tasting,  long  enjoy  thee !   too  infirm, 
Or  too  incautious  to  preserve  thy  sweets 
Unmixed  with  drops  of  bitter,  which  neglect 
Or  temper  sheds  into  thy  crystal  cup ; 
Thou  art  the  nurse  of  Virtue,  in  thine  arms 
She  smiles,  appearing,  as  in  truth  she  is, 
Heaven-born,  and  destined  to  the  skies  again."* 

If  you  would  "  preserve  these  sweets," 
connect  them  with  heaven.  Have  you  no 
desire  to  honour  God,  in  the  midst  of  these 
his  favours.  Or  do  you  see  no  seemliness  in 
recognising  the  religion  of  Christ  in  your 
family  capacity  ?  Even  supposing  that  there 
were  no  injunction  of  such  a  service  as  this, 
one  might  expect  it  to  grow  up  spontane- 
ously in  Christian  households.  Prayer  is  a 
duty  of  natural  religion.  The  Mohamme- 
dan, wherever  he  journeys,  prays  to  God 
five  times  a  day,  at  his  stated  hours.  The 
very  heathen,  in  their  families,  call  on  their 
gods,  "  which  are  yet  no  gods."f  Shall  a 
Christian  house  be  void  of  all  tokens  of  its 

Cowper.  |  Jeremiah  ii.  11. 


234  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

relation  to  God  ?  One  might  claim  of  you, 
as  a  follower  of  the  Redeemer,  to  hold  forth 
some  such  sign,  that  as  for  you  and  your 
house,  you  fear  the  Lord.*  If  God  had  given 
no  indications  of  his  good  pleasure  in  this 
ordinance,  it  is  one  of  so  great  value  and 
blessedness,  that  we  might  all  reasonably 
join  in  asking  it  at  his  hands  as  a  special 
boon.  But  he  gives  it  to  us  freely  :  and  yet 
the  heavenly  gift  is  spurned  by  thousands  ! 
Suppose  it  were  revealed  to  us  that  we  were 
forbidden  to  worship  God  in  our  families. 
Though  all  other  means  should  remain  un- 
diminished, it  would  be  a  fearful  interdict; 
a  portentous  curfew  to  our  domestic  fires. 
The  parent  and  the  child  could  no  longer 
press  around  the  feet  of  divine  mercy,  cling- 
ing the  more  closely  because  the  rest  of  the 
world  is  shut  out.  Yet  multitudes  deny 
themselves  all  this  blessing,  of  their  own  free 
choice;  and  parents  and  children  grow  up 
and  live  and  separate  and  appear  in  judg- 
ment, without  having  ever  met,  even  once, 
in  an  act  of  common  household  supplication. 
It  is  amazing,  and  all  but  incredible,  that 
any  man  who  loves  Christ,  should  be  willing 

*  Joshua  xxiv.  15. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  235 

to  preside  over  a  family  in  which,  from  year 
to  year,  there  is  nothing  to  signalize  it  as  be- 
longing to  the  Lord. 

O  Christian  parent!  "  suffer  the  word  of 
exhortation."  Be  persuaded  not  to  deny 
yourself  a  service  which  will  heighten  all 
your  comforts.  The  principle  is  undoubted, 
that  we  have  tenfold  pleasure  in  that  which 
we  enjoy  in  company  with  those  whom  we 
love.  That  is  not  a  father's  heart,  which 
does  not  experience  it  every  day.  We  realize 
it  in  our  common  meals,  our  recreations,  our 
readings,  our  excursions,  our  visits;  why 
should  you  not  realize  it  in  your  religion  ? 
Family-Worship  is  a  coming  to  God,  not 
singly,  but  hand-in-hand  with  your  children 
and  family ;  and  from  this,  its  peculiar  aspect, 
it  has  delights  and  advantages  which  are  all 
its  own. 

The  family,  as  such,  has  its  wants  and 
dangers,  and  sorrows,  and  sins,  which  it  is, 
therefore,  reasonable  to  lay  before  God  in 
a  special  devotion.  No  human  community 
stands  out  from  the  mass  in  such  substan- 
tive and  prominent  individuality  ;  the  circle 
which  bounds  it  is  clear,  and  sharply  mark- 
ed, and  has  been  described  by  the  hand  of 


236  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

God  himself.  There  is  a  community  of  in- 
terest: no  persons  on  earth  are  so  much 
bound  together.  Nothing  can  befall  any  one, 
without  reaching  the  whole  circle.  You  are 
invited  to  present  your  household,  as  a  house- 
hold, before  the  Infinite  Giver  of  all  good. 
Be  assured  he  wTill  make  a  difference  be- 
tween those  who  fear  him,  and  those  who 
fear  him  not.  It  was  with  a  dreadful  refer- 
ence to  this  very  family-tie,  that  God  said, 
"  Them  that  honour  me  I  will  honour,  and 
they  that  despise  me  shall  be  lightly  esteem- 
ed."* Your  habitation  will  be  more  safe; 
and  its  inmates  more  prosperous,  by  reason 
of  God's  answer  to  the  petitions  which  you 
put  up  together. 

By  a  faithful  observance  of  Family- Wor- 
ship, you  will  be  employing  a  daily  means 
towards  the  eternal  salvation  of  your  house- 
hold. It  is  scarcely  possible  to  think  of  this 
without  some  impression.  The  everlasting 
damnation  of  your  own  offspring  is  a  catas- 
trophe so  awful,  that  no  single  instrumenta- 
lity, which  promises  to  avert  it,  should  be 
omitted.  No  prayers,  indeed,  considered  as 
so  much  work  wrought,  will  effectually  save 

*  1  Samuel  ii.  30. 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  237 

these  souls ;  but  we  know  no  means  which 
tend  more  directly  to  this  end,  than  domes- 
tic worship,  and  the  duties  to  which  it  leads. 
Are  you  willing  to  hazard  so  great  a  neglect? 
Dare  you  live  any  longer,  withholding  your- 
self from  an  agency  which  adds  even  a  hair's 
weight  of  probability  to  the  eventual  rescue 
of  these  beloved,  perishing  souls  ?  There  are 
other  means,  indeed,  but  they  are  seldom 
used  by  the  neglecters  of  family-prayer. 
Think  how  hard  you  already  find  the  per- 
formance of  these  duties;  how  your  mouth 
is  closed,  in  regard  to  the  personal  admoni- 
tion of  your  children  and  servants ;  how  little 
you  have  spoken  to  them  of  their  sin  and 
danger,  and  of  the  way  of  salvation  by  Christ ; 
how  defective  your  example  is;  how  few 
tokens  you  give  them  of  such  a  power  and 
loveliness  in  religion  as  may  draw  them  to 
it.  You  assuredly  are  not  so  rich  in  spiritual 
agency  on  your  little  flock  as  to  be  able  to 
do  without  this.  If  humbly  attempted,  and 
devoutly  pursued,  there  is  good  reason  to 
believe  that  it  will  result  in  their  eternal 
good;  and  we  put  it  to  your  conscience,  in 
the  sight  of  God,  whether  you  can  despise  it 
without  exceeding  guilt. 

21 


238  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

You  need  the  aid  of  Family- Worship  in 
the  rearing  of  your  children :  this  has  been 
discussed  at  large.  Your  duty  is  now  to  act 
upon  the  truth.  At  present,  while  your  chil- 
dren, perhaps,  are  small,  you  find  govern- 
ment an  easy  task.  They  reverently  hear 
your  wTords,  and  pray  by  your  side,  and  weep 
at  the  name  of  Jesus;  you  are  sometimes 
tempted  to  think  their  hearts  renewed.  But 
a  few  years  will  make  a  strange  difference. 
Let  them  enter  upon  adolescence,  and  all 
your  cords  will  prove  like  the  spider's  web, 
unless  you  shall  have  maintained  your  influ- 
ence upon  them  by  the  daily-growing  bond 
of  family-religion.  Look  around  you,  among 
families  professing  faith  in  Christ,  and  ob- 
serve the  difference  between  those  which 
worship  God  and  those  w^hich  worship  him 
not;  and  then,  as  you  love  your  offspring, 
and  as  you  would  save  them  from  the  rebel- 
lion of  Hophni  and  Phinehas,  set  up  the 
wrorship  of  God  in  your  house. 

Family- Worship  has  been  shown  to  be  a 
happy  instrument  for  the  promotion  of  piety 
in  a  household.  A  true  Christian  will  desire 
that  his  children  and  dependents  should  be 
not  merely  safe,  but  eminently  holy.     Are 


FAMILY- WORSHIP.  239 

you  conscious  of  any  such  desires  ?  In  the 
absence  of  them  can  you  persuade  yourself 
that  you  are  a  child  of  God?  Or,  feeling 
them,  can  you  possibly  endure  a  life  without 
so  much  as  one  common  prayer  as  a  family  ? 
Have  you  no  call  for  domestic  thanksgiving? 
no  daily  mercies?  no  special  deliverances? 
no  long-continued  exemptions  from  evil?  It 
is  monstrous,  that  a  Christian  household 
should,  on  these  points,  be  absolutely  dumb : 
we  scarcely  know  how  it  can  be  so.  Some 
tribute  of  gratitude  will  surely  burst  forth, 
unawares,  and  ascend  to  heaven  from  a  sanc- 
tified dwelling.  u  The  voice  of  rejoicing  and 
salvation  is  in  the  tabernacles  of  the  right- 
eous."* 

God  has,  we  will  suppose,  given  you  a 
number  of  children.  They  are  "  an  heritage 
of  the  Lord ;"  and  "  the  fruit  of  the  womb  is 
his  reward."  "  As  arrows  are  in  the  hand 
of  a  mighty  man,  so  are  children  of  the 
youth;  happy  is  the  man  that  hath  his  quiver 
full  of  them.  They  shall  not  be  ashamed, 
but  they  shall  speak  wTith  the  enemies  in  the 
gate."!  But  that  you  may  enjoy  such  bless- 
ings, it  is  indispensable  that  you  should  be 

*  Psalm  cxviii.  15.  f  Psalm  cxxvii.  3,  4,  5. 


240  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

living  in  the  performance  of  parental  duty, 
and  especially  that  you  should  be  engaged 
in  prayer  with  your  little  ones.  In  a  prayer- 
less  dwelling,  children  seem  to  stretch  out 
their  little  hands  to  the  professing  father  for 
this  needful  protection  and  benediction,  as 
really  as  the  helpless  brood  regards  the  pa- 
rent-bird for  natural  supplies. 

It  is  dreadful  to  consider  the  neglect  of 
Family-Worship,  as  connected  with  the  en- 
gagements implied  in  infant  baptism.  In 
that  sacrament,  the  parents  solemnly  dedi- 
cate their  little  one  to  God,  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  do  as  solemnly 
incur  an  obligation  to  use  all  methods  for 
the  accomplishment  of  that  which  is  set  forth 
in  the  rite.  The  officiating  minister  is  direct- 
ed to  exhort  parents  to  the  careful  perform- 
ance of  their  duty,  requiring  of  them  that 
they  instruct  their  child,  "that  they  pray 
with  and  for  it ;  that  they  set  an  example 
of  piety  and  godliness  before  it ;  and  endea- 
vour, by  all  the  means  of  God's  appointment, 
to  bring  up  their  child  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord."*  It  is  matter  of 
very  general   usage,  though   not   expressly 

*  Directory  for  Worship,  chap.  vii.  §  4. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  241 

enjoined  by  our  church,  to  exact  from  pa- 
rents a  solemn  vow  in  regard  to  this  parti- 
cular duty.  We  must  remain  in  wonder,  by 
what  means  so  many  professing  parents 
absolve  themselves  from  this  affecting  obli- 
gation. 

You  are,  it  may  be,  the  head  of  a  family 
comprising  numerous  domestics  and  other 
dependents,  whose  souls  are  entrusted  to 
your  care.  Here  is  a  means  of  daily  appear- 
ing before  them  in  a  religious  character,  and 
daily  drawing  their  thoughts  to  divine  things. 
Little  as  it  may  have  burdened  your  con- 
science, it  will  enter  into  that  judgment 
which  awaits  you.  And  unless  you  have 
arrived  at  some  better  way  of  inculcating 
truth,  and  promoting  piety,  and  unless  you 
are  in  the  active  observance  of  this  better 
method,  you  cannot,  without  sin,  neglect  the 
domestic  worship  of  God. 

With  particular  and  affectionate  earnest- 
ness, would  we  commend  this  subject  to 
young  householders,  who  are  just  entering 
on  domestic  life  for  themselves.  The  mar- 
riage-bond is  too  often  contracted  with  a 
predominance  of  worldly  and  dissipating 
thoughts,  if  not  with  great  levity.    But  there 

21* 


242  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

are  serious  associations,  to  a  reflecting  mind, 
hovering  around  the  union  of  two  young  per- 
sons for  life.  And  here,  as  in  other  things, 
first  steps  are  momentous.  Begin  aright, 
and  you  escape  some  of  the  most  formidable 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  this  observance. 
Sanctify  the  union  of  your  hearts  by  the 
institution  of  God's  service.  Resolve  that 
as  soon  as  you  have  a  house,  you  will  have 
your  Lord  acknowledged  under  its  roof. 
This  will  sweeten  every  solace  of  your  days. 
The  time  is  near  when  you  shall  feel  your 
need  of  it.  It  will  give  a  colour  to  your 
whole  life.  Especially  in  days  of  affliction, 
(and  they  will  come,)  you  will  have  at  hand 
a  spring  of  divine  comforts.  Honour  God 
in  the  beginning  of  your  course,  and  when 
you  approach  its  close,  you  will  bless  his 
holy  name,  that  he  ever  put  the  thought  into 
your  heart. 

You  are,  perhaps,  a  new  professor,  but 
just  admitted  to  the  table  of  the  Lord.  You 
are  at  the  best  juncture,  for  amending  what 
is  evil  in  your  life.  Let  no  delays  prevent 
your  immediate  enjoyment  of  this  ordinance. 
Break  through  every  restraint,  and  let  the 
time  of  your  public  avouching  of  God  as 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  243 

your  God,  be  marked  by  your  solemn  and 
deliberate  establishment  of  God's  worship  in 
your  dwelling.  Such  is  your  obvious  duty, 
if  you  have  failed  up  to  the  time  of  a  profes- 
sion of  faith.  But  let  not  these  remarks  be 
interpreted  as  if  the  duty  of  family-prayer 
were  dependent  on  the  sacramental  commu- 
nion. So  far  from  it,  that  even  if  you  have 
never  united  yourself  in  the  fall  enjoyment 
of  church-fellowship,  you  are  no  less  bound 
to  honour  God  in  your  own  house,  this  very 
day.  But  he  who,  after  struggles  of  mind, 
in  regard  to  other  duties,  can  deliberately 
approach  the  Lord's  table,  and  then  go  home 
and  resume  a  course  of  heathenish  forgetful- 
ness  of  domestic  worship,  must  be  regarded 
as  diseased  in  conscience,  if  not  altogether 
misled  as  to  his  personal  acceptance. 

It  is  a  delicate  question,  which  is  often 
proposed  to  ministers  of  the  gospel,  whether 
those  who  make  no  public  profession  of  their 
faith  should  be  encouraged  in  the  mainten- 
ance of  Family-Worship.  In  replying  to 
it,  we  desire  to  speak  with  modesty  and  yet 
with  decision.  The  twro  duties  are  not  de- 
pendent on  one  another.  Family-prayer  is 
a  duty  of  every  householder,  binding  on  him 


244  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

every  day  of  his  life.  The  believing  remem- 
brance of  Christ  at  his  table  is  another  duty. 
"Where  a  man  who  is  grave  and  sober,  and 
who  has  been  trained  in  the  ways  of  God,  is 
prompted  to  honour  his  Creator  and  Bene- 
factor in  his  dwelling,  wTe  dare  not  forbid 
him,  any  more  than  we  would  forbid  him  to 
pray  in  his  closet.  We  would  employ  the 
occasion  to  urge  upon  him  the  grand,  para- 
mount duty  of  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
the  duty  of  publicly  professing  such  faith ; 
but  we  would  likewise  rejoice  to  see  him, 
without  delay,  assembling  his  household  for 
the  worship  of  the  Lord.  Let  him  be  warned 
of  the  danger  of  resting  in  such  means,  or 
in  any  means ;  let  him  not  hope  by  such  per- 
formance to  propitiate  that  Divine  favour 
which  comes  only  on  the  believing ;  let  him 
not  delay  an  instant  to  fly  to  the  mercy  of 
God  in  Jesus  Christ ;  but  let  him,  neverthe- 
less, conduct  his  children  and  servants  to 
that  throne  of  grace  where  sovereign  grace 
may  vouchsafe  to  him  an  undeserved  benefit. 
Nay,  while  we  would  sedulously  avoid  seem- 
ing to  compound  for  a  greater  duty  by  the 
performance  of  a  lesser,  we  hesitate  not  to 
say,  that,  where  more  cannot  be  secured,  it 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  245 

is  an  act  of  Christian  mercy  to  households, 
to  prevail  on  their  head  even  to  read  a  chap- 
ter in  the  Bible,  morning  and  evening. 

Thus  far,  it  may  be  said  to  some,  you  have 
pursued  the  tenor  of  your  way,  in  the  utter 
neglect  of  Family- Worship.  To  you,  the 
message  is  simple — fly  at  once,  with  your 
household,  to  the  throne  of  grace  !  Cease  to 
consider  it  as  a  matter  of  indifference,  or  an 
affair  of  variable  custom.  The  neglect  is 
most  serious.  It  is  your  loss,  and  the  loss  of 
your  offspring.  It  is  your  sin.  It  calls  for 
repentance,  and  for  reformation,  which  is 
the  criterion  of  repentance.  Instead  of  a 
lingering  meditation  on  the  expediency  of 
the  work,  you  should  begin  now.  "  To  him 
that  knoweth  to  do  good,  and  doeth  it  not,  to 
him  it  is  sin."* 

*  James  iv.  17. 


246 
CHAPTER  XVIII. 

DIFFICULTIES    AND    OBJECTIONS. CONCLUSION. 

The  fact  that  an  observance  so  important 
and  fruitful  should  be  widely  disregarded, 
even  in  Protestant  churches,  may  well  give 
rise  to  serious  inquiry  into  the  causes  of  such 
neglect.  Misapprehensions,  objections,  and 
difficulties,  must  certainly  exist,  or  we  should 
find  it  as  universal  as  Sabbath-worship. 

Laying  aside  all  flattering  words,  we  may 
say  plainly,  that  we  regard  the  neglect  of 
Family-Worship  as  springing  from  luke- 
warmness  and  worldliness  in  religion,  and 
as  a  portentous  evil  of  our  day.  Where 
piety  is  ardent  and  operative,  it  cannot  but 
diffuse  itself  through  the  domestic  structure. 
Where  a  man  has  the  spirit  of  prayer,  he 
will  naturally  be  led  to  give  vent  to  his  devo- 
tion in  fellowship  with  those  whom  he  loves 
most  of  all  on  earth.  We  are  ready  to  make 
allowance  for  the  force  of  long  habit,  and  the 
religious  usages  of  particular  countries,  and 
will  not  hastily  condemn  those,  who,  in  the 
midst  of  popery  and  neology,  are  governed 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  247 

by  the  customs  of  their  vicinity.  But  even 
there,  we  have  already  observed,  that  as  vital 
godliness  advances,  this  service,  or  something 
equivalent,  comes  in,  by  a  natural  suggestion, 
or  rather  by  a  suggestion  of  grace.  And 
where  the  custom  of  Protestant  churches 
abroad,  in  any  region,  authorizes  the  disuse 
of  domestic  prayer,  we  scruple  not  to  refer 
the  origin  of  this  disuse  to  the  decay  of  piety 
in  a  former  age.  We  have  good  reason  to 
believe  that  all  the  Reformation  churches 
were  acquainted  with  family-prayer. 

A  great  accession  to  the  piety  of  a  Christian 
house  will  manifest  itself  in  nothing  more 
speedily,  than  in  the  necessity  under  which 
they  will  feel  themselves  laid,  to  come  toge- 
ther in  acts  of  worship.  There  may  be  per- 
sons who  know  not  what  it  is.  For  one 
large  class,  however,  no  such  apology  can  be 
made.  They  are  sons  of  the  church,  intro- 
duced within  its  guardian  care  by  baptism, 
and  familiarized  to  the  daily  sanctuary,  of 
which  they  can  even  now  scarcely  hear,  or 
think,  without  recalling  the  image  of  a  saint- 
ed father,  whose  voice  in  their  early  years 
conducted  them  to  the  praise  of  God.  When 
such  persons,  so  instructed,  establish  house- 


248  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

holds  of  their  own,  with  a  daily  memento  of 
their  youthful  privilege,  and  their  present 
neglect,  in  every  hour  at  which  God  was 
wont  to  be  worshipped  under  the  paternal 
roof,  and  still  deny  the  faith  of  their  child- 
hood, they  hot  only  sin,  but  sin  knowingly 
and  inexcusably.  Nothing  but  the  absence 
of  devout  affections  can  account  for  such  a 
life. 

So  great  is  our  desire,  however,  to  meet 
the  neglecters  of  this  service  on  any  ground, 
that  we  will  yield  a  ready  attention  to  all 
their  doubts,  scruples,  and  objections ;  and 
for  this  purpose  no  better  way  suggests  itself 
than  that  of  supposing  the  replies  which  may 
be  made  to  our  preceding  urgent  beseeching, 
that  the  reader  would  enter  upon  Family- 
Worship  forthwith.  What  arguments  can 
we  imagine,  from  his  lips?  "  The  service,  as 
I  have  seen  it,  is  a  dull  formality ;  and  my 
house  is  as  well  without  it."  Then  you  have 
seen  it  under  great  neglect  or  perversion. 
Like  all  religious  services,  it  may  be  so  con- 
ducted as  to  be  both  dull  and  formal.  But 
no  Christian  observance,  known  among  men, 
admits  of  more  life,  and  none  is  connected 
with  more  sources  of  tender  affection.     Very 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  249 

ignorant,^  very  stupid,  or  very  irreligious  peo- 
ple, jriay  transform  it  into  a  tedious  and  bur- 
densome routine,  but  this  is  no  fault  of  the 
ordinance :  they  do  the  like  with  every 
sacred  thing  that  they  touch.  We  do  not 
invite  you  to  such  a  service,  or  to  any  dead 
formality,  but  to  that  which,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  elevated  emotion,  may  be  made,  and 
is  daily  made,  a  delightful  and  animating 
means  of  grace.  True,  it  is  simple,  and  lacks 
all  the  paraphernalia,  and  posture,  and  gri- 
mace of  anti-christian  rites,  but  in  the  house- 
holds of  the  righteous  it  shines  with  a  pure 
and  hallowed  attraction ;  and  we  appeal  to 
those  who  have  enjoyed  it  from  their  infancy, 
whether  they  do  not  regard  it  in  retrospect 
with  every  feeling  rather  than  that  of  weari- 
ness. Nay,  the  very  reason  why  we  would 
introduce  the  means  under  every  roof,  is  that 
it  possesses  in  so  remarkable  a  degree  the 
quality  of  inspiring  the  liveliest  emotion. 

"  Family-Worship  may  be  well  enough  in 
itself,  but  it  does  not  fall  in  with  the  customs 
of  my  house  and  my  guests."  This  is  with 
some  a  valid  argument,  and  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  there  are  customs  of  households 
and  of  society,  with  which  Family-Worship 

22 


250  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

will  assuredly  interfere.  Such  is  the  custom 
of  late  and  irregular  rising,  agreeably  to 
which  the  yawning  inmates  of  a  house  strag- 
gle down  to  a  breakfast-table,  which  stands 
for  hours,  awaiting  the  successive  approaches 
of  the  solitary  and  moody  participant;  and 
that  other  custom,  of  passing  a  long  evening, 
as  it  is  called  by  the  courtesy  of  fashion,  at 
the  theatre,  the  card-party,  the  ball,  or  the 
not  less  unseasonable  supper,  or  assembly. 
It  is  not  the  least  of  the  advantages  of  do- 
mestic prayer,  that  it  stands  in  open  daily 
protest  against  these  growing  observances  of 
the  mode. 

"I  have  not  time  for  Family-Worship." 
In  the  hurry  of  our  great  cities,  it  is  painful 
to  observe  the  preference  given  to  Mammon 
over  God.  Look  at  the  living  tide  which 
rolls  every  morning  down  such  a  thorough- 
fare as  Broadway  !  A  stranger  might  be  for- 
given if  he  supposed  that  the  life  of  each 
oreathless  banker,  merchant,  or  clerk,  de- 
pended on  his  reaching  the  commercial  lati- 
tudes within  a  certain  minute.  But  how 
many  of  these  have  prayed  writh  their  fami- 
lies ?  Some,  we  rejoice  to  believe ;  but  the 
mass  have  no  time  for  any  thing  but  the 


^  FAMILY-WORSHIP*  251 

world.  Unless  men  will  lose  their  own  souls, 
and  jeopard  the  souls  of  their  children,  they 
must  take  time  for  God.  And  the  more  busy, 
exhausting,  and  absorbing,  any  man's  days 
are,  the  more  does  he  need  the  deliberate 
abstraction  of  a  quiet  devotional  hour,  such 
as  that  of  Family-Worship.  "  Were  you 
formed  for  this  world  only,  there  would  be 
some  force  in  the  objection,  but  how  strange 
does  such  an  objection  sound  in  the  heir  of 
an  eternity  !  Pray,  what  is  your  time  given 
to  you  for  ?  Is  it  not  principally  that  you 
may  prepare  for  eternity  ?  And  have  you  no 
time  for  what  is  the  great  business  of  your 
lives  ?  Again,  why  do  you  not  plead  too, 
that  you  have  no  time  for  your  daily  meals? 
Is  food  more  necessary  to  your  bodies,  than 
religion  to  your  souls  ?  If  you  think  so,  what 
is  become  of  your  understandings  ?  Further, 
what  employment  do  you  follow  ?  Is  it  law- 
ful or  unlawful  ?  If  unlawful,  then  renounce 
it  immediately;  if  lawful,  then  it  will  admit 
of  the  exercise  of  family-religion,  for  God 
cannot  command  contradictions,  and  since 
he  has  commanded  you  to  maintain  his  wor- 
ship in  your  houses,  that  is  demonstration 
that  every  calling  which  he  allows  you  to 


252  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

follow  will  afford  time  for  it.  Finally,  may 
you  not  redeem  as  much  time  from  idle  con- 
versation, from  trifling,  [from  the  morning 
papers,]  or  even  from  your  sleep,  as  may  be 
sufficient  for  family-religion  ?  May  you  not 
order  your  family  devotion  so  that  your 
domestics  may  attend  upon  it,  either  before 
they  go  out  to  their  work,  or  when  they  come 
to  their  meals  ?"* 

"  Our  family  is  so  small."  How  many 
are  there  of  you?  Are  there  two?  Then, 
"  Wheresoever  two''  (see  Matt,  xviii.  19,  20.) 
John  Howard  and  his  valet,  as  they  journeyed 
from  place  to  place,  used  to  have  Family- 
Worship  by  themselves,  if  they  could  get  no 
one  else  to  join  them.  "  Wherever  I  have  a 
tent,"  he  would  say,  "  there  God  shall  have  an 
altar."  If  there  be  two  of  you,  though  it  be 
but  a  Ruth  and  a  Naomi,  a  mother  and  her 
daughter,  your  family  is  large  enough  to  wor- 
ship God,  an£  to  get  the  blessing  of  those 
who  worship  him. 

" ■  My  family  is  so  large ;  there  are  so 
many  servants,  and  so  many  visiters,  that  I 
have  not  courage  to  begin.'  If  your  family 
be  large,  the  obligation  to  begin  is  all  the 

*  Davies's  Sermons,  Sermon  xxix. 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  253 

greater.  Many  suffer  by  your  neglect.  And 
if  your  congregation  be  numerous,  the  like- 
lihood that  some  good  will  be  done  is  the 
greater,  for  there  are  more  to  share  the  bene- 
fit. And  why  want  courage  ?  Should  not 
the  very  fact  that  you  are  acknowledging  God 
encourage  you  ?  "  Them  that  honour  me,  I 
wTill  honour.'  Begin  it  believingly,  and  in 
the  very  attempt  courage  wall  come."* 

"  There  are  persons  present  in  my  house, 
whose  superior  age  or  intelligence  deters  me 
from  the  duty."  To  this  it  must  be  replied, 
that  if  such  persons  are  sober,  wise,  and 
generous,  they  will  look  not  only  with  allow- 
ance, but  writh  kindly  regard  on  the  endea- 
vour ;  and  if  they  are  otherwise,  it  is  too 
much  to  demand  of  an  independent  and  a 
Christian  man,  that  he  should  for  an  instant 
be  governed  by  their  caprices  or  their  cen- 
sure. The  head  of  a  family  should  assert  his 
authority  in  his  own  house. 

"I  am  unlearned,  and  destitute  of  gifts.' ! 
Either  misapprehension  or  pride  suggests 
this  objection.  It  is  not  a  service  which  de- 
mands genius,  erudition,  or  eloquence.  You 
have  education  enough  to  read  a  portion  of 

*  Hamilton's  "  Church  in  the  House." 

22* 


254  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

the  Scriptures  with  propriety  and  solemnity. 
And  you  can  so  far  gather  your  thoughts, 
by  suitable  premeditation,  as  to  pour  out  a 
prayer  to  God  for  those  whom  you  love, 
which  wTill  be  all  the  better  for  its  simplicity 
of  expression.  The  families  are  few,  in  which 
the  father  need  to  tremble  before  his  own 
dependents.  Then  consider  that  the  gift  of 
prayer  is  from  above,  and  that  He  who  aids 
in  the  closet,  will  aid  in  the  family  group. 
Unless,  indeed,  you  labour  under  the  evil 
consciousness  that  you  are  living  in  the  ne- 
glect even  of  secret  prayer,  and  then,  as  you 
have  an  additional  sin  to  repent  of,  so  you 
have  an  additional  duty  to  perform.  "What," 
says  President  Davies,  "  have  you  enjoyed 
preaching,  Bibles,  and  good  books  so  long, 
and  yet  do  not  know  what  to  ask  of  God? 
Alas  !  what  have  you  been  doing?" 

"  My  family  are  unwilling  to  unite  in  the 
service."  This  is  one  of  the  wrorst  things 
which  can  be  testified  of  a  family.  Grace- 
less, indeed,  must  those  sons  or  daughters  be, 
who  could  for  an  instant  hesitate  to  accom- 
pany their  father  to  the  throne  of  grace,  or 
who  could  throw  any  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
such  an   observance.     You  have   strangely 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  255 

neglected  the  maintenance  of  parental  autho- 
rity, if  any  such  temper  really  exists.  The 
objection  speaks  loudly  in  favour  of  an  early 
institution  of  family-prayer,  that  children 
may  be  accustomed  to  it  from  their  earliest 
years,  and  not  need  to  be  reconciled  to  the 
holy  custom  after  a  long  career  of  wayward 
folly.  But  granting  that  the  mortifying  case 
is  as  you  have  alleged,  it  is  only  anew  proof 
that  you  should  vindicate  your  claim,  as  a 
Christian  householder,  to  rule  in  your  own 
house. 

"  The  truth  is,  I  am  ashamed  to  begin/' 
We  seriously  believe  that  this  single  reason 
operates  with  more  force  than  all  the  others 
put  together ;  and  it  is  one  with  which  we 
are  constrained  to  deal  honestly  and  solemn- 
ly. Men  who  have  allowed  their  households 
to  increase  around  them  without  any  visible 
service  of  God,  awake  to  some  sense  of  their 
duty,  and  would  attempt  the  performance  of 
it,  but  for  a  secret  dread  of  the  sneer,  even  of 
a  child  or  a  servant.  Religion  frequently 
brings  men  to  such  a  dilemma,  and  it  is  a 
test  of  sincerity.  If  the  scorn  of  the  world 
is  to  decide  our  conduct,  we  might  as  well 
abandon  all  service  of  God  at  once ;  but  we 


256  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

know  the  lot  of  those  who  are  ashamed  of 
Christ.  We  choose  to  place  the  question  on 
this  ground,  because  true  piety  will  lead  a 
man  to  serve  God,  in  spite  of  shame.  But, 
in  reality,  the  danger  is,  for  the  most  part, 
one  of  the  imagination.  No  such  ridicule 
will  commonly  ensue,  but  rather  inward  ap- 
proval and  increased  respect.  And  that  feel- 
ing of  strangeness,  which  accompanies  the 
entrance  on  an  unaccustomed  work,  will 
wrear  off,  perhaps  after  the  very  first  trial. 

Among  these  and  similar  objections  which 
might  be  stated,  we  have  not  found  one 
which  really  goes  against  the  duty  itself,  or 
which  contravenes  the  reasons  heretofore 
given  in  this  book.  We  are,  therefore,  bound 
to  press  the  immediate  performance  of  the 
duty,  upon  every  sincere  reader,  in  the  assur- 
ance that  so  doing  he  will  bless  God  for 
having  enabled  him  to  enter  upon  so  delight- 
ful a  service.  The  days  of  life  are  few. 
Children  are  rapidly  growing  into  their 
habits  for  life.  Some  of  them  will  soon  be 
beyond  your  reach.  Death  will,  before  long, 
work  strange  separations.  The  night  cometh. 
In  prospect  of  that  judgment  which  is  nearly 
impending,  be   persuaded   to   lay  aside   all 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  257 

frivolous  excuses,  to  take  up  the  cross,  and 
to  be  in  your  family,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  a 
devout  and  unflinching  servant  of  Christ. 

Before  removing  our  hand  from  these  hum- 
ble labours,  we  must  be  allowed  to  add,  that 
there  are  duties  to  be  performed  by  those  also 
who  have  never  neglected  the  outward  obser- 
vance. To  be  what  we  have  represented, 
Family-Worship  must  be  something  more 
than  a  form  of  recurring  service,  however 
grave,  punctual,  or  decorous.  It  may  dege- 
nerate into  a  rite  as  empty  as  the  sprinkling 
of  holy  water,  the  recounting  of  beads,  or 
the  putting  on  of  phylacteries.  Under  the 
agency  of  Infinite  Grace,  it  is  a  mighty  in- 
strument for-  good ;  but  we  must  concentrate 
every  power,  to  bring  out  all  its  strength. 
No  care  can  be  too  great,  which  shall  make 
this  daily  service  more  seemly,  more  solemn, 
more  instructive,  more  interesting,  and  more 
affectionate.  We  should  prepare  for  it  by 
preparing  the  heart.  We  should  earnestly, 
and  every  day,  make  a  deliberate  and  dis- 
tinct effort  to  free  ourselves  from  that  apathy 
and  that  formality,  which  attach  themselves 
to  a  customary  service.  We  should  come  to 
it  with  eagerness  and  love,  and  should  endea- 


258  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

vour,  by  God's  help,  so  to  conduct  it  as  to 
show  to  all  in  the  house,  that  it  is  a  delight, 
and  that  our  heart's  desire  is,  that  all  may 
find  it  a  delight.  We  should  regard  it  as  a 
daily  avenue  to  the  very  feet  of  our  God  and 
Saviour,  and  in  this  light  as  a  privilege  be- 
3'ond  all  price.  Like  the  kindred  observance 
of  the  Sabbath,  (with  which  it  commonly 
stands  or  falls,)  Family-Worship  is  observed 
to  be  most  delightful  to  those  who  bestow 
the  most  pains  upon  it. 

We  are  too  much  disposed  to  rest  satisfied 
with  our  avoiding  the  sin  of  those  who  alto- 
gether neglect  domestic  prayer.  But  how 
do  we  render  it  ?  Are  we  in  earnest  ?  Are 
we  full  of  faith  ?  Do  our  affections  flow  forth 
in  it?  Do  we  shun  all  undue  haste?  Is  our 
deportment  such,  when  engaged  in  this  ser- 
vice, that  all  around  us  may  bear  testimony 
that  it  is  a  sincere  tribute  of  our  affections  to 
God  ?  Questions  such  as  these  may  carry  a 
rebuke  to  many  householders.  Perhaps  one 
great  cause  of  that  declension  of  piety  which 
we  so  generally  lament  in  our  country,  is 
connected  with  the  non-performance,  or  the 
ill  performance,  of  this  household  duty. 
While  we  content  ourselves  with  vague  com- 


FAMILY-WORSHIP.  259 

plaints,  and  wait  for  some  reviving  measures 
from  abroad,  here  is  a  home-measure,  which 
is  at  every  man's  door.  So  long  as  every 
family  spies  out  the  sins  of  every  other,  and 
bewails  the  coldness  of  the  body  at  large,  the 
evil  only  grows ;  but  if  each  family,  in  reli- 
ance on  God,  were  to  awake  to  the  duties  of 
domestic  piety,  household  discipline  and  in- 
struction, and  daily  prayer,  we  should  behold 
a  gracious  revival  in  all  our  churches.  By 
the  'former  method,  no  one  house  is  benefit- 
ed ;  by  the  latter,  every  house  would  become 
a  Bethel.  When  shall  we  see  among  us  that 
deeply-pervading  national  interest  in  divine 
things,  wrhich  animated  all  classes  in  Scot- 
land, at  the  second  Reformation  ?  Mingled, 
as  it  doubtless  was,  with  much  misappre- 
hension in  regard  to  the  connexion  of  Christ's 
kingdom  with  the  civil  polity,  it  was,  never- 
theless, a  genuine  fire,  infinitely  to  be  pre- 
ferred to  the  tepid  languors  of  our  American 
condition  in  divine  things.  Nor  can  we  hope 
for  a  restitution  of  this,  until  religion,  and 
the  service  of  God,  be  made  the  great  busi- 
ness of  every  house.  "  Turn  us,  O  God  of 
our  salvation,  and  cause  thine  anger  toward 
us  to  cease.      Wilt  thou  be  angry  with  us 


260  FAMILY-WORSHIP. 

for  ever  ?    "Wilt  thou  draw  out  thine  anger  to 
all  generations  ?     Wilt  thou  not  revive  us 

AGAIN,    THAT    THY    PEOPLE     MAY     REJOICE     IN 
THEE?"* 

*  Psalm  lxxxv.  4,  5.  6. 


THE    END. 


-lN XT  TO    **° 


S7  /£"£ 

4 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


